Humsafar Express to be launched soon with higher fare structure

Special features will be CCTV, GPS-based passenger information system, fire and smoke detection and suppression system, mobile and laptop charging points

Humsafar Express, a special service comprising only AC-3 coaches with many added facilities, is going to be launched shortly, but it will have higher fare than the usual trains.

"We will announce the fare structure of Humsafar soon but it will be slightly higher than the normal service," Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said after inspecting the Humsafar coaches in New Delhi.

Equipped with coffee/tea/soup vending machine, hot and refrigerated pantry and other facilities such as Khadi linens and waste basket in each cabin, the first 22-coach Humsafar Express will be pressed into service on dynamic fare system.

"We have announced four new type trains in our budget. Humsafar is here now, Tejas will soon be introduced, Antodaya is ready and Uday will also be ready," Prabhu said adding the first Humsafar will be launched from Gorakhpur.

Estimated to cost about Rs 2.6 cr per coach, some of the special features on Humsafar trains will be CCTV, GPS-based passenger information system, fire and smoke detection and suppression system, mobile and laptop charging points.

"Humsafar is an entirely 3AC train. There are many facilities which were not available before. We have tried to address the concerns of the common passengers in this train by adding these facilities. There are provisions of waste baskets, LED lights, aesthetic interior design, flooring and CCTV for safety," he said.

Humsafar will have improved aesthetics with new interior and exterior colour scheme presenting a futuristic look with the use of vinyl sheets similar to Maharaja Express coaches. It will also have integrated braille displays.

"We have provided good quality of khadi linens, passenger information system, fire detection and alarm system. Whatever we have promised in budget, will be fulfilled," he added.