INDIAN RAILWAYS TO LAUNCH VISTADOME COACHES FROM TODAY IN ASSAM AND WEST BENGAL

The Indian Railways is all set to the much-awaited Vistadome train from today. The train service will be provided at two locations, one from Guwahati and New Haflong in Assam and the other from New Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar Junction in West Bengal. The special train has a Vistadome coach, two air-conditioned chair cars, two non-air-conditioned chair cars, a luggage car, and a power coach.

GUWAHATI-NEW HAFLONG IN ASSAM

The train will run on Wednesdays and Saturdays, with stops at Manderdisa and Maibong stations. It will leave Guwahati at 6:35 a.m. and arrive in New Haflong at 11:55 a.m., traversing 269 kilometers via the North Cachar Hill area. The train will depart New Haflong at 5 p.m. on the return route and arrive in Guwahati at 10:45 p.m.

NEW JALPAIGURI-ALIPURDUAR

The New Jalpaiguri-Alipurduar pathway is encircled by steep hills and dense woods, which is home to a variety of wild animals and diverse biodiversity. The train will leave NJP at 7:20 a.m. and arrive at Alipurduar at 1:00 p.m., covering a distance of 168 kilometers. And for the return, it will leave from Alipurduar at 14:00 hrs and arrive in NJP at 19:00 hrs. The train line is known as the elephant corridor, and it has a speed limit of 25 kilometers per hour. Tea tasting spots at Sevoke and Hasimara, selfie points at Sevoke and Hasimara, are among the attractions alongside the route.

The special Vistadome train will run thrice days a week, on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, between NJP and APD junction section with stoppages at Sevoke, Chalsa, Madarihat, and Rajabhatkhawa stations.

The one-way ticket for the Vistadome NJP to Alipurduar Junction trip would be about Rs 955. The AC and Non-AC chair cars will cost Rs 410 and Rs 85, respectively, and tickets can be purchased in advance using the PRS or IRCTC websites.

The features of the train include a WiFi-based passenger information system, passenger entertainment system with digital display screens, automatic sliding doors, CCTV surveillance, and fire alarm. The Vistadome coach will be equipped with glass windows and a glass roof. Vistadome will provide a 360-degree view of the open sky, mountains, tunnels, bridges, hills, and deep green forests to the tourists.

The Vistadome coaches have already been deployed in eastern India, particularly in the heritage Darjeeling Himalayan Railway’s much-anticipated toy trains (DHR). The Vistadome carriages are also seen on the Jan Shatabdi Express between Mumbai and Goa, the Kalka-Shimla Railway, and the connection train between Visakhapatnam and Araku.