In its endeavor to make train journeys in Kashmir more fun-frolic and comfortable, Northern Railways has decided to run soon the Valley’s first air-conditioned train fitted with a glass-rooftop and bigger windowpanes for sightseeing.
The trial run of the train was successfully held on Thursday with Railway Department claiming the newly introduced train will give fillip to the tourism in the region.
The trial of the coach was held from Srinagar to Sadura in Anantnag.
The railway official said the special AC train will run between Baramulla to Banihal from next month “as operational and commercial formalities are still being decided.”
The trial run was held in presence of divisional railway manager, Firozpur, chief area manager Srinagar, senior DSC, railway protection force, and senior DEN for Kashmir.
Hari Mohan, chief area manager, Srinagar told Kashmir Post that catering and other facilities are being provided in the AC train which as of now has only one coach with seating for 40 passengers.
“The rooftop of this train is made of glass while windowpanes are bigger in size than the regular railway coaches so that both locals and tourists boarding the train can enjoy the scenic locales of the Valley,” said Mohan.
Mohan said on both front and rare side of the AC train, two coaches have been fixed for providing the heating to the special train, he added.
Addressing media persons at Nowgam railway station in Srinagar, divisional railway manager Vivek Kumar said coach was primarily built to give a boost to tourism in the valley.
“This train has been designed for sightseeing. There are spacious windows and seats in the coach. We have even kept sun roofs in it. It is also equipped with air condition keeping in view extreme cold and hot summers here,” he said.
Kumar said the special train is an attempt to “give a warm essence to the visitors about Kashmir”.
Kumar also said fares for the train will be slightly higher than charged on normal train.
The Vistadome Coaches will have features like LED lights, rotatable seats and GPS-based information system, the railway official said.
To mention. announcement of this special train was made in the Union Budget last year.
First Glass-Roofed AC train to make journeys fun-frolic in Kashmir
