India's First Corporate Train Becoming Popular Day By Day

By W Perwez

Lucknow, Oct 10, 2019: Shashank Mishra from Gurgaon is the only person from Twitter society, who has complained against non-availability of the basic amenities in the newly launched and privately run semi high-speed Lucknow-New Delhi Tejas Express.

“No water in the washrooms No AC working in the coach in the all-new NDLS LKO Tejas Express.” Shashank Mishra Tweeted from his Twitter handle @ShashankFDDI with hashtags to #wellplayedIRCTC #tejas #tejasexpress and also marking @IRCTCofficial

The above complain is not verified. The Complainant has not given any details. This is single unverified complaint after launching this train last week. The fact is India's first private train Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express is becoming popular day by day.

However, passengers are comparing the Speed and Fare of Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express with Shatabdi Express and raising fingers on the claims made by Rail Minister Piyush Goyal about the speed of the Train.

“Despite the airline-like approach to service, many passengers tell me they'll go back to Shatabdi as Tejas ends up taking the same time and costs more bucks,” Fatima Khan Tweeted from her Twitter handle @khanthefatima.

“Your claim of Tejas is faster is just bogus. Shatabdi takes 1 hr 13 mnts between LKO and CNB whereas Tejas takes 1.15 mts From CNB to NDLS Tejas takes 5 hrs 25 mnts whereas Shatabdi takes 5 hrs 22 mnts. Total running time of Shatabdi is 6 hrs 40 mnts and Tejas 6 hrs 45 mts,” Tweeted one passenger namely Shanti Gm from his Twitter handle  @ShantiGm1 on Oct 5 to @PiyushGoyal.

Giving a feel of a private Airline, the new Tejas Express by IRCTC , the first corporate-run Train of the country, Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express, was lagged off by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath from Lucknow Junction.

The success of this experiment will help decide rules for private operators to run trains on the Indian Railways network.

With a host of new facilities, the new Tejas Express between Delhi-Lucknow  is India’s first ‘private’ Train since the Ticketing and Operational control is entirely under Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).

What is new in Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Train

Apart from offering passengers a more comfortable and fastest ride experience between Lucknow and Delhi, IRCTC has introduced several firsts in terms of service standards. It includes:

•             Refund of money in case of delay

•             Travel insurance up to 25 lakhs

•             Full refund of waitlisted tickets

•             Tickets booking till 2 minutes before departure

•             Tea-coffee vending machines

•             Call bell and toilet indicator facilities in train

For the first time, IRCTC is offering free insurance of ₹25 lakh to the passengers traveling in Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express.

If the Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express delays for over an hour, passengers will get a compensation of ₹100. For delay of two hours and more, the passengers will receive ₹250.

The insurance cover includes ₹1 lakh insurance against theft or robbery during the travel.

Passengers can get tickets till 2 minutes before departure of train through the IRCTC website and app only.

There is no Tatkal quota But IRCTC follows a 'Flexi fare' scheme for the train tickets which are priced higher than shatabdi.

IRCTC's first private train follows the dynamic fare scheme.

The fare for Lucknow to New Delhi Tejas Express is ₹1,125 for AC chair car and ₹2,310 for executive chair car.

The New Delhi to Lucknow Tejas Express ticket is priced at ₹1,280 for AC chair car passengers and ₹2,450 for executive chair car.

The Train Tejas runs 6 days in a week barring Tuesday.

Train from Lucknow starts at 6: 10 am and reaches Delhi at 12:25 pm.

Train from Delhi starts at 3:35 pm and reaches Lucknow at 10:05 PM.

Wooden cutlery is being used in Tejas instead of plastic ones to reduce the usage of single-use plastic.

IRCTC is also extending taxi hiring and hotel bookings facilities to passengers on demand

Passengers must know that there is no booking at railway reservation counters for Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express.

Passengers can only book tickets in Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express via IRCTC website or its mobile app. Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express has an advance reservation period of 60 days.

The Tejas Express cuts the time traveled between the two cities to 6.15 hours from the 6.40 hours taken by the Swarn Shatabdi, currently the fastest train on the route.

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has thanked PM Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Piyush Goel for giving the first corporate Train to Uttar Pradesh.

"I thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Piyush Goel for giving the first corporate train from the biggest state to Delhi," UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said while inaugurating the Lucknow-Delhi Tejas Express.

Tejas, India's first corporate-run semihigh speed with airline like look will surely open the doors of more private players in the Railway service. The price might be a concern for common passengers, but the availability of this option on a little higher price will be welcomed by many too. 

Image Credit: Twitter/Piyush Goyal / Passengers 

Video Courtesy - Speedy Indian Railways

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