BENGALURU: Rail passengers who took the Uday Utkrisht Double-decker air-conditioned Yatri Express train on its maiden journey from Bengaluru to Coimbatore at 2.15 pm on Saturday were a delighted lot with the conveniences on offer. The train reached its destination at 9pm the same day.
For the first time, they had on offer a train equipped with hygienic toilets, WiFi connectivity, GPS, automated food vending machines that were placed in individual coaches, and semi sleeper seats that provided more comfort. The train also has LCD screens in each compartment that display passenger details and information about upcoming railway stations. All this for a fare of Rs 610.
Most passengers onboard were impressed by the cleanliness, a boon for those tired of unhygienic conditions in most Indian trains.Raghunath M, a 35-year-old post office employee from Coimbatore, said, “The toilets in the train are spotless and each compartment has a dustbin unlike any other train.”Ramu R, a 45-year-old private finance company employee travelling to Coimbatore, said, “It is well-designed and spacious unlike other trains operating from the state.”
However, some passengers were not too happy, especially senior citizens. A 60-year-old woman said, “Sleeper coaches should be introduced so that older people can sleep as it takes almost seven hours to reach Coimbatore.”
Her fellow passenger, a lecturer at an engineering college in Bengaluru, said, “There is insufficient space between the luggage rack and the seats below and this becomes a problem for tall people who might hit their head when they stand on the top deck.”
The express runs at a speed of 160 km/hour and completes the 378km in seven hours. Except Mondays, the train will operate on all the other days with stops at Tirupur, Erode and Salem.