It is the first semi-high speed service in Indian Railways, which can reach a maximum speed of 160 km per hour and is expected to cross the 200 km distance in 90 to 100 minutes.
"We have decided that we will try to ensure that all the trains running across the country must become faster than they are today. We will try to ensure that the trains used regularly by the common man become faster, so that they reach their destination sooner," Prabhu told ANI after the express launch.
Unlike with most Indian trains, the Gatimaan Express will have train hostesses greeting passengers on board. Passengers will have options of different kinds of cuisine, have access to free on-board entertainment and watch videos on their gadgets even without a Wi-Fi connection.
MR @sureshpprabhu Inaugurated Executive Lounge at Agra Cantt Rly Station #Promisesinmotion pic.twitter.com/oDlb5opwAF
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) 5 апреля 2016 г.
The Gatiman Express has GPS-based information system for passengers, an automatic fire alarm, bio-toilets and automatic sliding doors in the railcars.
The launch of this train heralds a new era of high speed rail travel in India.
Indian Railways plans to introduce such trains on nine more routes in the future, including Chandigarh-Delhi, Kanpur-Delhi, Goa-Mumbai and Hyderabad-Chennai.
