Railways to upgrade 14 Rajdhani and 15 Shatabdi trains under Project Swarna

The railway ministry on Wednesday announced the launch of the revamped Rajdhani train with the first Swarn Rajdhani (Train no 12313 New Delhi – Sealdah Rajdhani Express) at New Delhi Station.

Indian Railways had earlier launched the first revamped Shatabdi train under the project, the New Delhi-Kathgodam Shatabdi Express.

It hopes to improve passenger experience in trains by upgrading premium Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains under Project 'Swarna', with improved passenger amenities, aesthetics and hygiene standards.

Under Project Swarna, the Railways has planned a detailed programme to significantly improve passenger experience on Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains, which include improvements in coach interiors, toilets, onboard cleanliness, punctuality, catering, linen, staff behaviour, security, onboard entertainment and real time feedback.

For this, the ministry had formed nine teams of two officers each from the Railway Board to monitor the progress of work under each dimension of Project Swarna. It has selected 14 Rajdhani trains and 15 Shatabdi trains for the first phase of this project.

The Sealdah Rajdhani, the first revamped Rajdhani rake to be launched under the project incorporates some new and innovative features introduced after extensive research.

The revamped New Delhi-Sealdah Rajdhani train has it interiors painted in an aesthetic colour scheme and LED lighting to improve illumination. The train ensures better hygiene by providing 'auto janitor' system in toilets – including health faucets, stainless steel wash basins improved soap dispenser and better quality dustbins, carefully chosen locations for ergonomic convenience.

Night signage provides for easy identifications of berth numbers for passengers boarding enroute.

Blanket covers for First AC passengers will have two different colours for to and fro journey to ensure separate covers in different journeys.

Other facilities include, built in ladders for First AC passengers for easy access to upper berth;  CCTV cameras in doorway area and aisles to monitor any suspecious activity with data storage; new design magazine pouches with an extra pocket for mobiles, etc; LED lighting over mirrors;  Vinyl wrapping of toilet doors for improved aesthetics; epoxy coating in toilets, provisioning of extra mats in toilet to improve hygienic standards and to give a dry toilet to the passengers with improved cleanliness and polished commodes and basins to make them odour free in every trip.

Three pilot coaches are in service to gather passenger feedback and assess journey worthiness.

An expenditure about Rs35 lakh (or nearly Rs 2 lakh per coach) has gone into this rake.

Under Project Swarna, zonal railways were given a free hand to develop and innovate to create aesthetic and passenger-friendly coach interiors on running rakes to establish new standards in passengers comfort. A target budget of Rs50 lakh per rake was allowed for this purpose. The list of Rajdhani and Shatabdi under this project is given below:

Rajdhani Trains covered under Project Swarna include:

Shatabdi Trains covered under Project Swarna: