Rlys to run special train on Buddhist circuit

Tribune News Service

Kapurthala, October 17

Indian Railways plans to run special Buddhist circuit train by the end of December this year. This information was shared by Railway Board member Rajesh Agrawal during an inspection of the first lot of special rakes at the Rail Coach Factory here today.

The Indian Railways plans to run the special train equipped with top facilities on the Buddhist circuit to attract international tourists from Thailand, Bhutan, Japan, China, Sri Lanka and other Buddhist countries.

Rajesh Agrawal said the first LHB rake of special coaches would be rolled out by the October end and the entire consignment would be sent by December for the special train that would chug along Buddhist destinations, including Bodh Gaya, Budh Vihar, Sarnath and Kushi Nagar.

He said the Indian Railways Catering and Tourists Corporation (IRCTC) would manage and decide the fare of the train.

RCF General Manager Satya Prakash Trivedi said coaches would have decorative outer body and top interior aesthetics with a provision of valuable digital lockers, decorative lighting , CCTV cameras, touch-free taps and soap dispensers, bio-toilets with vacuum evacuation, tea/coffee vending machine and venetian blind windows for a panoramic outside view.

The first rake include four coaches — AC first class, two AC second class, one AC 3-tier coach for staff — besides two coaches for the dining car and a pantry and two power car coaches, the GM said.

Will attract int’l tourists

The Indian Railways plans to run the special train equipped with top facilities on the Buddhist circuit to attract international tourists from Thailand, Bhutan, Japan, China, Sri Lanka and other Buddhist countries. Railway Board member Rajesh Agrawal said the Indian Railways Catering and Tourists Corporation (IRCTC) will decide the fare of the train.