Tejas Express maiden run: From auto doors to wi-fi, here's why it's special

It will take 9 hours for one-way journey during the year, but 11 hours during monsoon

Luxury train Tejas Express, with ultra-modern amenities, began its maiden journey at 3:25 pm. It started from Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and will reach Goa’s Karmali station in nine hours. 

It was flagged off by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu through video-conferencing in the presence of Union Power Minister Piyush Goyal, cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar and other dignitaries.

"I would say that travelling by this premium train would provide a better experience than flying in a plane. This train would pass through lush greenery of the Konkan belt, giving a picturesque view of the seashore, mountains and valleys, which will let you enjoy the journey and not just the destination (Goa)," D K Sharma, general manager of the Central Railway, was earlier quoted as saying by PTI.

Here are the key features it offers its travellers:

Seating and design

The 20-coach modern train has one executive air conditioned (AC) chair car with 56 seats and 12 AC chair cars with 78 seats in each coach. 

LCD screens (pictured) are available for the passengers' entertainment abord the luxury train.
 

 

The coaches will have tea and coffee vending machines, magazines and snacks tables. The luxury Tejas Express is also equipped with close circuit televison cameras and fire and smoke detection facilities for the security of passengers.

Another image of the interior of the Tejas Express
 

The coaches, which have been manufactured at the Indian Coach Factory in Chennai, are equipped with automatic doors, Wi-Fi and LCD screens. 

It also includes other features like touch-less water taps, water level indicators and hand dryers. Also, all coaches are fitted with bio-vacuum toilets.

Speed

The state-of-the-art train, capable of running at 200 kilometres per hour (kmph), will currently run at 160 kmph due to operational constraints. 

Once monsoon kicks in, the train will not be able to maintain even half the speed it has promised as the tracks are not equipped to handle speeds of more than 90 kmph, reported the Mumbai Mirror.

While it will take about nine hours for a one-way journey during the rest of the year, during monsoon, the time taken will be 11 hours. 
 

Fares

Fares of the premium train would be slightly higher as compared to normal express or mail trains. A one-way trip in the executive class has been fixed at Rs 2,585 without food and Rs 2,740 with food, while the fare for the ordinary chair car has been fixed at Rs 1,310 with food and Rs 1,185 without food.

Unlike the Shatabdi Express and Rajdhani Express, passengers will have the option to avail onboard food or not. The fare of the Jan Shatabdi Express on the same route without food is Rs 940.

Train schedule 

It is scheduled to run five days a week between CST Mumbai and Karmali in Goa. The premium train will depart at 5 am on every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 24 and arrive Karmali at 1.30 pm on the same day.

It will leave Karmali at 2.30 pm on every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday from May 23 and arrive at the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in Mumbai at 11 pm the same day.

However, during the monsoon season, likely from next month, it will run three days a week.