India's fastest train Gatiman Express to begin service from April 5

AGRA: Gatiman Express, the country's fastest train, will start plying between Agra and Delhi from April 5. The state-of-the-art train will take one hour and forty minutes to complete the journey. Ironically, on the same route runs a passenger train which takes around eight hours to cover the 195-km distance.

Railway officials have made all the required arrangements to start the most awaited train between the two heritage cities. It will be flagged by railway minister Suresh Prabhu on April 5 from Nizamuddin railway station in Delhi.

On the inaugural day, the train will start its journey at 10am and reach Agra Cantt station at 11.40am. The Delhi-Agra Gatiman Express, the first train in India to run at a speed of 160 kmph, is expected to cover the 200-km distance in 100 minutes and will have train hostess.

The fare for chair car in fully air-conditioned Gatiman Express has been fixed at Rs 690, while a passenger will be required to spend Rs 1,365 for travelling Executive Class. In Delhi-Agra Shatabadi Express, the chair car fare is Rs 540 and Rs 1,040 for Executive Class.

On the other hand, there is New Delhi-Agra Cantt passenger train, which takes seven hours and 34 minutes to cover 195 km at a meager speed of 25 kmph. However, it never reaches the destination on time and take one-two hours extra. The fare is kept at Rs 45 and it has 27 halts in comparison of not a single stoppage between Agra and Delhi in Gatiman express.

Additional divisional railway manager Sheelendra Pratap Singh said, "It is not that it runs on a slower engine. Its maximum speed is 110kmph. The train since its inception has been running on this decided schedule and there is no plan to change it. It takes so much time because it stops at each and every station. Moreover, it is stalled for other premium train to give passage."

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/agra/Indias-fastest-train-Gatiman-Express-to-begin-service-from-April-5/articleshow/51663275.cms

I have traveled in passenger trains only 3 or 4 times a year. It is an entirely different feeling - seeing all the villages and simplicity of people. Sure it is better if it is a 2 - 3 hour ride rather than 6 or 7 hours - which will be really boring.

Marathadi-Saamiyaar wrote:I have traveled in passenger trains only 3 or 4 times a year. It is an entirely different feeling - seeing all the villages and simplicity of people. Sure it is better if it is a 2 - 3 hour ride rather than 6 or 7 hours - which will be really boring.

I did it quite often, long train journeys in India (including by passenger trains), before going to U.S. / Canada for studies. The real "topper" sometimes was the Gomoh - Kharagpur or Asansol - Kharagpur section by passenger train (about 150 miles, 30 stations, about 6 hrs.) after arriving at Gomoh or Asansol on Amritsar - Howrah Mail or Pathankot - Sealdah Express during my travel from Himachal to Kharagpur.

Gatimaan Express sets pace in ticket booking

NEW DELHI: India's fastest train Gatimaan Express seemed to have created a buzz among Taj visitors as all the tickets have been booked for its first weekend journey.

Nizamuddin-Agra Gatimaan Express, the country's first semi-high speed train capable
of running at a speed of 160 km per hour, was flagged off on April 5 and since then it is gradually gaining popularity among travellers, according to Railway officials.

While the bookings ranged between 40 to 50 per cent on April 6 and 7, it was in much demand for the weekend journey on April 9 and 10.

Gatimaan bookings were 100 per cent as per the reservation status and tickets were wait-listed for the weekend journey, said a senior railway ministry official.

Targeting tourists, railways has enhanced passengers' amenities in the train with improved catering service and it takes 100 minutes to cover 188 km long distance between Nizamuddin railway station and Agra.

Gatimaan is gaining momentum as the booking and reservation status for the weekends is running housefull which is a good indicator of its popularity, said the official.

Encashing its popularity, IRCTC, railways' tourism and catering arm, has also offered two different Agra guided heritage packages to coincide with the existing time-table of Gatimaan Express.

While one package is for a single day, the other is for two days.

The tariff for the full-day package, which includes guided visit to the Taj Mahal and Agra Fort, lunch at a reputed local restaurant, AC vehicle for sightseeing, entry ticket to monuments and time for shopping, has been fixed at Rs 2,100 for an Indian adult and Rs 2000 for a child (5-11 years).

For foreigners, it is Rs 3,900 for an adult and Rs 2,000 for a child.

According to the IRCTC, the two-day package to Agra comprises visit to the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, Itmad-ud-Daulah, Mehtab Bagh, Fatehpur Sikri and Sikandra, buffet lunch and dinner, accommodation at Jaypee Palace, a five-star hotel, guide services, AC vehicles for sightseeing and entry tickets to monuments.

The tariff for the two-day package is Rs 14,500 (single occupancy), Rs 10,800 (double occupancy) and Rs 10,300 (triple occupancy). For child with bed (5-11 years), the tariff has been fixed at Rs 7,000 and for child without bed (5-11 years), it is Rs 3,800.

For the foreigners, the tariff is Rs 17,600 (single occupancy), Rs 13,900 (double occupancy) and Rs 13,400 (triple occupancy). For child with bed (5-11 years), the rate has been fixed at Rs 7,000 and for child without bed (5-11 years), it is Rs 3,800.

While booking tickets on the IRCTC portal, passengers have the option of choosing either of the two packages.

IRCTC CMD Dr A K Manocha said Gatimaan Express, which heralds India's entry in the era of semi-high speed rail travel, has tremendous tourist potential.

"Our packages have been synchronized with the timings of the train, and it will be a boon for time-conscious travellers. The packages are comprehensive and hassle-free and take care of every single need of a tourist, IRCTC CMD AK Manocha said.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Gatimaan-Express-sets-pace-in-ticket-booking/articleshow/51757904.cms

160kmph. pencho. Trains in US were doing 160kmph in the 1960s. What the ef.

This train takes 100 mins to do DEL-AGRA. The Del-Bhopal Shatabdi takes 110 mins to do DEL-AGRA but it starts from a very congested station - New Delhi - versus Gatiman that starts from Nizamuddin. Del-Bhopal Shatabdi was launched TWENTY EIGHT bakri choding years ago. TWENTY EIGHT. 

So much hype about absolutely nothing.