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Western Railway specials

Western Railway will run winter holiday specials from Bombay to Ajmer, Jaipur, Indore, Gandhidham, Porbandar and Ahmedabad and from Jaipur to Howrah.

  • Special trains will run between Bombay and Ajmer from September 28 to November 14.

    • Train 979 will depart from Borivali at 1320 hours on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and arrive at Ajmer at 0835 hours the following day.

    • On the return journey train 980 will depart from Ajmer at 1620 hours on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and arrive Borivali at 1140 hours the following day.

    The train will halt at Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Nadiad, Ahmedabad, Mahesana, Unjha, Palanpur, Abu road, Sirohi road, Jawaibandh, Falna, Rani, Marwar Junction, Sojat road and Beawer.

  • Special trains will run between Bombay and Jaipur from October 13 to November 13.

    • Train 973 will depart from Bombay Central at 1100 hours on Fridays and Sundays and arrive at Jaipur at 0640 hours the next morning.

    • On the return journey train 974 will depart from Jaipur at 0800 hours on Mondays and Saturdays and arrive at Bombay Central at 0445 hours the next morning.

    The train will halt at Borivali, Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Godhra, Dahod, Ratlam, Nagda, Shamgarh, Kota and Sawai Madhopur.

  • Special trains will run between Bombay and Indore from October 17 to November 15.

    • Train 992 will depart from Indore at 2200 hours on Tuesdays and arrive at Borivali at 1200 hours the following day.

      LI>On the return journey train 991 will depart Borivali at 1400 hours on Wednesdays and arrive at Indore at 0500 hours the following morning.

    The train will halt at Vapi, Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Godhra, Dahod, Ratlam, Nagda, Ujjain and Dewas.

  • Special trains will run between Bombay and Gandhidham from October 14 to November 17.

    • Train 959 will depart from Bombay Central at 1400 hours on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays and arrive at Gandhidham at 0615 hours the following morning.

    • On the return journey train 960 will depart Gandhidham at 1800 hours on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays and arrive at Bombay Central at 1045 hours the following morning.

    The train will halt at Borivali, Palghar, Dahanu road, Vapi, Valsad, Bilimora, Navsari, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Nadiad, Mani Nagar, Ahmedabad, Viramgam, Dhranghdhara, Halvad, Maliya Miyana, Samakhiali and Bhachau.

  • Special trains will run between Bombay and Porbandar from October 17 and November 15.

    • Train 983 will depart from Bombay Central at 2300 hours on Tuesdays and arrive at Porbandar at 1705 the following day.

      On the return journey train 984 will depart Porbandar at 1750 hours on Wednesdays and arrive at Bombay Central at 1235 hours the following day.

    The train will halt at Borivali, Vapi, Valsad, Navsari, Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Viramgam, Surendra Nagar, Than, Wankaner, Rajkot, Hapa, Jamnagar, Lalpur, Bhanvad and Wansjaliya.

  • A special train will run between Bombay and Ahmedabad from October 13 to November 11.

    • Train 971 will depart Bombay Central at 2300 hours on Fridays and arrive at Ahmedabad at 0560 hours the following morning. On the return journey train 972 will depart Ahmedabad at 2100 hours on Saturdays and arrive at Bombay Central at 0500 hours the following morning.

    The train will halt at Borivali, Surat and Vadodara.

  • A special train will run between Jaipur and Calcutta to clear the extra rush of passengers during the Dusshera vacations.

    • Train 237 will depart from Howrah at 2230 hours on September 29 and on October 3 and arrive at Jaipur at 0500 hours the following morning.

    • On the return journey train 238 will depart from Jaipur at 0820 hours on October 2 and 6 and arrive at Howrah at 1245 hours the following morning.

    The train will halt at Asansol, Dhanbad, Gaya, Mughal Sarai, Allahabad, Kanpur, Tundla, Agra Fort, Idgah and Sawai Madhopur.


More new trains!

Northern Railway will run special trains between Delhi and Jammu Tawi and between Bombay and Kalka to clear the extra rush of passengers during the Dusshera and Diwali vacations.


Puja specials

Central Railway will run special trains between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Madgaon during the Ganapati festival and between Bombay CST and Howrah during the Dusshera and Diwali holidays. Additional coaches will also be added to trains from Bombay to Varanasi, Calcutta, Nagpur and Goa.


More seats.

Konkan Railway has attached two more second class sleeper coaches to the 0111/0112 CSTM- Madgaon Konkankanya Express on permanent basis.

The Konkankanya Express now has 17 coaches in all, including one guard cum brake van.


Cool seats!

Western Railway will replace the existing sercond-class sleeper coach of the Awantika Express by Ac three tier sleeper coach.

This service will come into effect from September 1 on the 2961 Bombay Central-Indore Awantika Express and from September 2 on the Indore-Bombay Central Awantika Express.


Schedule changes!

Central Railways has made the following changes on their new schedule effective from July 1, 2000.

Northern Railways schedule changes effective from July 1, 2000.

Southern Railways schedule changes effective from July 1, 2000.


A new Rajdhani to Sealdah. And more new trains!

Eastern Railway has introduced a new Rajdhani Express between Calcutta and New Delhi from July 1, 2000.

Eastern Railway has also introduced a new train between Calcutta and Kanyakumari.

  • The Kanyakumari Express will depart Howrah at 1510 hours on Mondays and arrive into Kanyakumari at 1340 hours on Wednesdays.

  • On the return journey the train will depart Kanyakumari at 0545 hours on Saturdays and arrive into Howrah at 0420 hours on Mondays.

Central Railways and will introduce the following new trains between Ahmedabad-Nagpur and Indore-Gwalior.

  • A new weekly express will be introduce between Ahmedabad and Nagpur from July 5, 2000.

    Train 1453 Dn will depart Ahmedabad at 1630 hours on Thursdays and arrive into Nagpur at 1220 hours on Fridays.

    Train 1454 Up will depart Nagpur at 0830 hours on Wednesdays and arrive inti Ahmedabad at 0405 hours on Thursdays.

    It will halt at Badnera, Akola, Bhusaval, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Surat, Vadodara, Anand and Nadiad.

  • A tri-weekly express will be introduced between Gwalior and Indore from August 15, 2000.

    Train 1141 Dn will depart Indore at 0740 hours on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays and arrive into Gwalior at 2145 hours the same day.

    Train 1142 Up will depart Gwalior at 0700 hours on Mondays and Wednesdays and Fridays and arrive into Indore at 2110 hours the same day.

    It will halt at Devas, Ujjain, Maksi, Guna and Shivpuri.

Northern Railways has introduced the following new trains:

  • The Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express will depart from Sealdah/New Delhi twice a week.
  • The Okha-Dehradun Uttranchal Express will depart from Okha/Dehradun once a week.
  • The Lucknow-Bhopal Express will depart Lucknow/Bhopal twice a week.
  • The Jodhpur-Bangalore Express will depart Jodhpur/Bangalore will depart Jodhpur/Bangalore once a week.
  • The Sealdah-Amritsar Akal Takth Superfast Express will depart Sealdah/Amritsar once a week.
  • The Lucknow-Chhapra Express will depart Lucknow/Chhapra daily.
  • The Bikaner-Suratgarh Express will depart Bikaner/Suratgarh once a week.
  • Manduvadih-Baidyanathdham Express will depart Manduvadih/Baidyanathdham twice a week.

Southern Railways has introduced the following new trains:

  • 2679/2680 Madras Central-Coimbatore Intercity Express will depart Madras/Coimbatore daily.
  • 6877A/6878A Madras Egmore-Tanjavur Link Express will depart Madras/Tanjavur daily.
  • 6227/6228 Bangalore-Shimoga Town Overnight Express will depart Bangalore/Shimoga daily.
  • 6519/6520 Bangarapet-Bangalore Express will depart Bangarapet/Bangalore daily.
  • 6352/6351 Nagercoil-Tirupati Express will depart Nagercoil/Tirupati twice a week.
  • 1043/1044 Madurai-Lokmanya Tilak Express will depart Madurai/Kurla once a week.
  • 6508/6507 Bangalore-Jodhpur Express will depart Bangalore/Jodhpur once a week.
  • 6510/6509 Bangalore-Ajmer Express will depart Bangalore/Ajmer once a week.


Revised timings!

Central Railways has revised the timings of the Coimbatore-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Express between Coimbatore and Kurla effective from July 1, 2000. However, no changes have been made on the return journey from Kurla to Coimbatore.

Train 1014 Up will depart Coimbatore, daily, at 0515 hours instead of 0430 hours and reach Kurla at 1240 hours instead on 1235 hours.

Train 1013 Dn departs Kurla, daily, at 2220 hours and reaches Coimbatore at 0720 hours.


Name change!

The names of the following trains will be changed with effect from July 1, 2000:

Train 1018 Dn and 1018 Up Bombay-Bangalore-Bombay tri weekly express via Miraj will be named the Chalukya Express.

Train 2155 Dn and 2156 Up Habibganj-Nizamuddin-Habibganj Superfast Express will be named the Shravati Express.


New timings!

Southern Railways has revised the Shalimar-Haldia Azad Express's timings from Shalimar to Haldia. However, no changes have been made on the return journey from Haldia to Shalimar.

Train 8019 Shalimar-Haldia Azad Express will now depart Shalimar at 0715 hours daily and arrive at Haldia at 0955 hours.

Train 8020 departs Haldia at 1810 hours daily and reaches Shalimar at 2115 hours.


Pune-Baramati Passenger on Central Railway, will now halt at the Kadethan railway station.

1625 Dn Pune-Baramati Passenger train will arrive at Kadethan1300 hours and depart at 1301 hours.


Direct weekly to Madurai

Central Railways will introduce a new express train between Bombay and Madurai from July 6.

Train 1043 Dn will depart from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus, Kurla at 2330 hours on Thursdays and reach Madurai at 1210 hours on Saturdays.

Train 1044 Up will depart from Madurai at 1800 hours on Saturdays and reach Kurla at 0720 hours on Mondays.

It will halt at Kalyan, Lonavla, Pune, Daund, Solapur, Gulbarga, Shahabad, Wadi, Raichur, Adoni, Guntakal, Gooty, Cuddapah, Ramzampeta, Renigunta, Arakkonam, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Tiruchirappalli and Dindigul.


Sealdah-Amritsar express

Northern Railways has introduced the Sealdah-Amritsar Express between Sealdah and Amritsar.

Train 2317 departs from Sealdah at 1240 hours on Sundays and reaches Amritsar at 2250 hours on Mondays.

Train 2318 departs from Amritsar at 0530 hours on Tuesdays and reaches Sealdah at 1530 hours on Wednesdays.

It will halt at Asansol, Patna, Mugalsarai, Varanasi, Lucknow, Moradabad, Ambala, Ludhiana and Jalandhar.

The train will consist of one air conditioned two tier, air conditioned three tier,10 sleeper class coaches, one general second class and two luggauge-cum-brake van coaches.


Thru Gujarat. And Rajasthan. In the style of a king.

The Royal Orient Express is offering a package tour of Rajasthan and Gujarat, for Rs 7,480 per person, per day.

Children below five years will not be charged. Children between five to twelve years will be offered a 50 per cent discount. A passenger has to book for a journey for a minimum of three days, to avail of the discount. This includes accommodation, all meals and sightseeing. The train offers air-conditioned saloons, a lounge, a library, a bar and two splendid restaurants.

The train will start from Delhi Cantonment railway station at 1500 hours, every Wednesday.

This package is valid till the April 26, 2000.

For many more details do check out Rediff Travel's travelog on the Orient Express, Memories of a Lost World

Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited, A/6 State Emporia Building, Baba Kharak Singh Marg, New Delhi. Phones: 011-3734015, 3364724. Fax: 011-3734015.
H K House, Ashram road, Ahmedabad. Phones: 079-6589172, 6587217. Fax - 079-6582183.
Dhanraj Mahal, Apollo Bunder. Phone: 022-2024925 Fax - 2883541. Website: Gujarat Tourism


Jaipur to Bangalore twice a week

A new biweekly express has been introduced between Jaipur and Bangalore with effect from August 30, thus replacing the weekly train between the two cities.

Train 9776 departs from Jaipur at 1615 hours on Mondays and Wednesdays and reaches Bangalore at 1805 hours on Wednesdays and Fridays respectively.

Train 9775 depart from Bangalore at 0845 hours on Thursdays and Saturdays and reaches Jaipur at 0745 hours on Saturdays and Mondays respectively.


Ride the Kangra Queen

Northern Railways has introduced a new narrow gauge luxury train between Pathankot and Palampur in Himachal Pradesh. The train will cover the 128 kms in four hours and 25 minutes.

The Kangra Queen departs Pathankot at 0820 hours and reach Palampur at 1255 hours, daily.

On the return journey, the train departs Palampur at 1345 hours and reach Pathankot at 1805 hours, daily. The train will halt at Jwalamukhi and Kangra stations on its way to and from Palampur.

The train has one first class coach, two chair cars and one second class coach. The total seating capacity of the train is 92 passengers.

The first class ticket between Pathankot and Palampur is priced at Rs 330 per head. The ticket for the chair car is priced at Rs 310 per head. The second class ticket is priced at Rs 190 per head.


Sunrise: Bombay. Sunset: Goa

Central Railways has introduced a new train between Bombay and Goa that will travel during daylight hours.

The 103 Dn, CST-Madgaon will depart daily from Bombay VT at 0535 hours and arrive at Madgaon, Goa at 1615 hours.

On the return journey the 104 Up, Madgaon-CST will depart daily from Madgaon, Goa at 1230 hours and arrive at Victoria Terminus, Bombay at 2315 hours.

It will halt at Thane, Panvel, Chiplun, Ratnagiri, Kudal, Sawantwadi, Thivim and Karmali.

The train consists of two AC chair cars, seven second class sitting coaches, one pantry car and two general second class-cum-guard brake vans.

The fare for an AC chair car is Rs 456 per person. The fare for second class sitting coach is Rs 170 per person.


Another superfast train between Delhi and Bhopal

The superfast Nizamuddin-Bhopal Express has been introduced between Nizamuddin, Delhi and Habibganj, Bhopal.

The Nizamuddin-Bhopal Express will leave Nizamuddin on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 2255 hours and halt at Gwalior, Jhansi, Vidisha and Bhopal. It will arrive at Habibganj, Bhopal at 0900 hours the next day.

In the reverse direction the train will leave Habibganj on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thrusdays at 2115 hours and arrive at Nizamuddin at 0755 hours the next day.

The train has nine sleeper coaches and three second class coaches.


Into the desert

Northern Railway has extended the Delhi-Jaipur Intercity Express to Jodhpur.

The express departs from New Delhi at 1700 hours and reaches Jodhpur at 0640 hours. In the reverse direction the express departs from Jodhpur at 2300 hours and reaches New Delhi at 1120 hours.

To accommodate the extra passenger load, three sleeper class coaches will be added on.


Take the Rajdhani to Guwahati

A new bi-weekly Rajdhani service has been introduced between New Delhi and Guwahati.

Train 2435 will depart from New Delhi on Fridays and Mondays at 1245 hours and halt at Moradabad, Bareilly, Lucknow, Varanasi, Ballia, Hajipur, Barauni, Katihar, New Jalapiguri and New Bongaigaon. It will reach Guwahati at 2030 hours the following day.

In the reverse direction Train 2436 will depart from Guwahati on Wednesdays and Sundays at 0600 hours and reach New Delhi at 1430 hours the next day halting at the same stations.


Tatkal expands

The Ranakpur Express between Bombay and Bikaner and Jodhpur has now been included in the Tatkal reservation service.

  • 4708 Up departs from Bandra Terminus, Bombay at 1520 hours and reaches Jodhpur at 1040 hours and Bikaner at 1700 hours.
  • 4707 Dn departs from Bikaner at 0945 hours and reaches Jodhpur at 1145 hours and reaches Bandra Terminus, Bombay at 1430 hours.


Speeding to see the Victoria Memorial

Central Railways will introduce a super fast AC Express from January 16 between Bombay and Calcutta. Bookings are already open.

2101 Dn departs from Kurla at 2220 hours and reaches Howrah at 0515 hours two days later via Kalyan, Igatpuri, Bhusaval, Akola, Badnera, Nagpur, Durg, Raipur, Bilaspur, Rourkela, Chakradharpur, Tatanagar and Kharagpur.

In the return direction 2102 Up departs from Howrah at 0600 hours and reaches Kurla Terminus at 1400 hours two days later via the same stations.

This will now be the fastest train on the Bombay-Calcutta route, completing the journey in 31 hours. Geetanjali Express, which was once the quickest train, takes 34 hours.

The train consists of five AC three tier coaches, three AC two tier coaches, one AC first class coach, one pantry cars, two generator and luggage vans, one Tatkal AC three tier coach and one Tatkal AC two tier coach.


Tourism in the name of Buddha

Archna Sachdeva in Sarnath

'A sarkari affair'. 'Good idea but bad execution'. 'An attempt to saffronise Buddhism.'

Brickbats. Lots of them. They flew faster than bouquets at the first Bauddha mahotsav, organised with great fanfare at important Buddhist sites of the country.

Touted as a path-breaking programme by the Union tourism ministry to put 'Buddhist circuits' in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar on the world tourism map, the 16-day festival from October 24 to November 8 left many wondering if this mix of religion and tourism would work.

While local Buddhist leaders were sceptical about the effect such extravaganzas would have on the quiet, religious environs of this suburb of Varanasi, and other similar places, travel agents were upbeat about the idea and its potential for changing the face of Indian tourism.

Union Tourism Minister Madan Lal Khurana, credited with pushing through the scheme, was confident that Buddhist sites like Rajgir, Sarnath, Bodhgaya, Kushinagar and Kaushambi could be developed into major attraction spots.

''If the Vatican and Mecca can draw millions of visitors from all over the world every year, why should not we develop our sights and attract tourists from the predominantly Buddhist Southeast Asian countries?'' Khurana asked.

Gerard Bogrand, a French tour operator, in Sarnath to film the proceedings, felt that the tourism ministry was on the right track.

''Leave alone the Southeast Asian states, even a country like France has some two to three million people involved in Buddhist seeking. A large number of them would be potential visitors to India," the Paris-based operator said.

However, while the tourism ministry's idea was good in principle, its execution was found wanting, Bogrand said. ''Logistics is the main problem here. From food to toilets to communication facilities, not much care seemed to have gone into ground-level preparations. It would be better if the government involves some tourism professionals in such ventures,'' he added.

Officialdom's apathy offended some Buddhist invitees from overseas also. Monks from Myanmar, following the Theravada sect, found that no arrangements had been made for them to have their food before noon, as prescribed by religion.

''There are many followers of the Thervada sect in India also. Thus, the officials should have known about our requirements. But, they seemed busier in looking after the various ministers attending the function than the delegates that they had invited,'' said U Maung Shwe, the leader of the Myanmar delegation.

That the criticism of the festival being a largely 'sarkari affair' had struck home was reflected by Uttar Pradesh Tourism Minister Kalraj Mishra's statement that efforts would be made from next year to make it a ''public function''.

He said Rs 10 million was spent on developing the Sarnath-Gaya sector for the event this year. The allocation for next year would be increased.

Meanwhile, the India Tourism Development Corporation has started a new train, the Bauddha Parikrama, from Howrah for the convenience of pilgrims on a Buddhist circuit.

A six day package tour would be offered on this train which travels to the Buddhist pilgrimage centres of Rajgir, Nalanda, Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Sarnath, Gaya Bodh Gaya. The accommodation, food, guides, and any road travel by luxury coach involved during this tour would be taken care of by the railways. The train is even equipped with a meditation room.

The train departs every Thursday. The schedule:

The tariff:

  • Luxury class: US $ 799 per person.
  • Elite class: US $ 629 per person.
  • Comfort class: US $ 529 per person.
  • Standard class: US $ 379 per person.
  • Indian residents can pay in the equivalent Indian rupees.

For tickets:
Indian Tourism Development Corporation, 3rd floor, New Delhi House, 27 Barakhamba road, New Delhi. Phones: 011-3313233, 371591, 3325035. Fax: 011-3324905. Web site:
India Tourism. Email: India Tourism or India Tourism


Plenty of new trains!

Western Railways, Southern Railways and Northern Railways has introduced five new trains :


By Shatabdi to the Golden Temple

Northern Railways inaugurated the Swarna Shatabdi Express from New Delhi to Amritsar.

Some special features of this train: fax, email and telephone facilities on board, higher speed, free magazines and newspapers, vending machines supplying unlimited hot and cold beverages, individual lighting, special platform at New Delhi, access to a railway station lounge, Tatkal facility, Wimpy's fast food counter at the station and the facility of renting a car at the New Delhi station.


More trains to run via Goa

Central Railway has announced that the 6333/6334 Rajkot-Trivandrum-Rajkot Weekly Express, the 6335/6336 Gandhidham-Nagercoil-Gandhidham Weekly Express and the 6337/6338 Rajkot-Cochin-Rajkot Weekly Express will now run on the Konkan Railway.

The journey for each of these trains will be eight to 10 hours shorter.

In effect, it will now be possible to travel from the important towns of Gujarat -- Rajkot, Baroda, Ahmedabad, Surat, Gandhidham -- to Goa directly.

Reservations for this train are available at all reservation centres connected to the Bombay passenger reservation system.


More information on new trains...


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