More options for tourists
seeking luxury on wheels
13 Dec 2008,
MUMBAI: By the end of
October 2009, tourists seeking luxury on wheels would have another option
to choose from. The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation
(IRCTC), and Cox and Kings India Ltd., (CKIL), have signed a 50:50 joint
venture agreement and set up Royale Indian Rail Tours Ltd., which would
run the luxury tourist trains on two routes.
At present, the Deccan
Odyssey, run by the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation and Indian
Railway, is not very popular with tourists. This could be because of exorbitant
pricing or the niche market, consisting of forgein tourists who don't find
the ring route followed by the train attractive.
The first route, called
the Princely India Tour, is a seven-night journey that covers Mumbai, Ahmedabad,
Udaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Jaipur and Delhi. The second is the Classical
India tour, also a seven-night journey, which covers Delhi, Agra, Gwalior,
Khajuraho, Varanasi, Patna and Kolkata.
"The train will carry
nearly 100 passengers in 15 coaches and will have two bars and two restaurants.
It will have an ultra-modern kitchen and a boutique,'' said Peter Kerkar,
managing director, Cox and Kings India.
The train has many firsts
to its credit. It would be the first to have four different classes of
passenger accommodation: deluxe, super deluxe, luxury and presidential
suites. "One whole carriage will accommodate the presidential suite. Other
features include state-of-the-art pneumatic and hydraulic suspension system
ensuring smoother ride,'' said Kerkar. All the passenger cabins would also
have microprocessor-based climate control.
IRCTC managing director,
Nalin Shinghal said this train would be a landmark in the growth of luxury
tourism in India. "This train will traverse through multiple states in
India. We will showcase the best destinations,'' he said.
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