Gatimaan Express: Everything you must know about India's fastest train

Text: Mail Today Bureau

The first Gatimaan Express, the fastest train in India, will be launched on April 5, where hostesses will be deployed to cater to the passengers. The train will be flagged-off by Suresh Prabhu.

"We are trying to provide best possible services in Gatimaan Express matching the flight services. We aim to provide world class environment on Indian trains so that one can look at these jobs with dignity. Depending on success of the experiment on New Delhi-Agra Gatimaan Express, train hostesses will be deputed in Rajdhani and Sahatabdi Express trains," a senior railway ministry official said.

The railways are also working on nine corridors where semi-high speed trains with such facilities will be introduced. The Indian Railways plans to roll out such trains on nine more routes, including Kanpur - Delhi, Chandigarh -Delhi, Hyderabad - Chennai, Nagpur - Bilaspur, Goa - Mumbai and Nagpur - Secunderabad among others.

Delhi's Divisional Rail Manager (DRM) Arun Arora said two attendants - one male and one female - will be deputed in each coach of Gatimaan Express. From serving food to providing newspapers, magazines - they will assist the passengers in all possible ways. New Delhi - Agra Gatimaan Express will have 20 train hostesses - two each for 10 passenger coaches in the train.

Gatiman Express will ply at the top speed of 160km/hour. The travel time from Delhi to Agra is estimated to come in at 105 minutes as compared to 120 minutes that Shatabdi Express takes. The fares for executive class stand at Rs 1,365, while Rs 690 for the chair car.