The Central Railways is celebrating the completion of 92 years of India’s first deluxe train, the Deccan Queen Express, connecting Pune and Mumbai on a grand scale. Entering its 93rd year, the train also known as Dakhan ki Rani will now have Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches from June 22.
— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) June 1, 2022
CR General Manager, Anil Kumar Lahoti inspected the LHB coaches at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus, including the general second class and AC chair car coaches, vista dome coach and the dining car and kitchen.
Talking to the Press, Lahoti said: “The Deccan Queen is one of the most prestigious trains which has been successfully running for the past 92 years. It is the only one of its kind on Indian Railways to have a Restaurant Car. This train will now run with LHB coaches from June 22.”
Sharing details about the exterior of the train, he added: “The design of dining car and exterior has been designed by the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad in coordination with Railway Board, Research, Design and Standards Organization, Integral Coach Factory, Chennai and Central Railway officials with inputs from the general public. The introduction of LHB coaches would mean more safer and pleasant travelling experience.”
The train’s inaugural took place on June 1, 1930, which was a major landmark in the history of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway, the forerunner of the Central Railway as it was the first deluxe train introduced on the railway.
In the beginning there were seven coaches having only first class and second class accommodation while in 1955 the third class was introduced. In 1966, further upgradation was done when coaches of the original rakes were replaced by anti-telescopic steel bodied integral coaches built by Integral Coach Factory, Perambur while the coaches were increased to 12. Last year in August, the Vistadome coach was attached.
