Rajdhani, Shatabdi Trains Getting Swarna Coaches With New Facilities. Details Here

Indian Railways had previously launched an upgraded Shatabdi Express Train between New Delhi and Kathgodam under Project Swarna.

Business | NDTV Profit Team | Updated: December 03, 2017 

Under 'Project Swarna', 14 Rajdhani and 15 Shatabdi trains will be upgraded

With an aim to improve train passenger experience on its premium Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains, Indian Railways has decided to upgrade its trains. Under 'Project Swarna', 14 Rajdhani and 15 Shatabdi trains will be upgraded with "improved passenger amenities, aesthetics and hygiene standards", the Ministry of Railways said in a press release dated November 29, 2017. On that day, the Railways launched its first upgraded Rajdhani train with 'Swarna' coaches, termed Swarna Rajdhani, from New Delhi to Sealdah. An expenditure of about Rs. 35 lakh has gone into this rake which translates into less than Rs. 2 lakh per coach, it added. Indian Railways, the provider of rail transport across the country, had previously launched an upgraded Shatabdi Express between New Delhi and Kathgodam under Project Swarna, it noted.

Here are five things to know about the new, upgraded Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains:

1. Under Project Swarna, improved passenger experience on Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains has been planned in 10 dimensions, according to the railways ministry. These are coach interiors, toilets, onboard cleanliness, catering, linen, staff behaviour, security, onboard entertainment and real time feedback.

2. 14 Rajdhani trains and 15 Shatabdi trains have been selected for the first phase of this Project, the ministry said.

3. For Project Swarna, the railways ministry has formed nine teams, each comprising two Railway Board officers, to monitor the progress of work.

4. The first revamped rake of Rajdhani under Project Swarna launched on the New Delhi-Sealdah route included LED lighting, night signage for easy identifications of berth numbers, CCTV cameras in doorway area and aisles, auto janitor systems in toilets and stainless steel wash basins with improved soap dispensers.

5. For First AC passengers, the upgraded Rajdhani train included blanket covers of two different colours and built in ladders for easy access to upper berth, according to the press release.

Here's the list of 29 Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains to be upgraded under Project Swarna:

Rajdhani Trains covered under Project Swarna:

Train No. From To

22811/12 Bhubaneshwar New Delhi

22823/24 Bhubaneshwar New Delhi

12309/10 Rajendra Nagar New Delhi

12301/02 Howrah New Delhi

12305/06 Howrah New Delhi

12313/14 Sealdah New Delhi

12439/40 Ranchi New Delhi

12441/42 New Delhi Bilaspur

12453/54 New Delhi Ranchi

22691/92 Bangalore H.Nizamuddin

22693/94 Nizamuddin Bangalore

12951/52 Mumbai (BCT) New Delhi

12953/54 Mumbai (BCT) H.Nizamuddin

12957/58 Ahmedabad New Delhi

Shatabdi Trains covered under Project Swarna:

Train No. From To

12025/26 Pune Secundrabad

12277/78 Howrah Puri

12019/20 Howrah Ranchi

12033/34 Kanpur New Delhi

12041/42 Howrah New Jalpaiguri

12085/86 Guwahati Dibrugarh/

12087/88 Naharlagun

12039/40 New Delhi Kathgodam

12045/46 New Delhi Chandigarh

12047/48 New Delhi Firozpur

12049/50 New Delhi Agra

12035/36 Jaipur Agra

12007/08 Chennai Mysore

12243/44 Chennai Coimbatore

12027/28 Bangalore Chennai

12009/10 Mumbai(BCT) Ahmedabad