The legendary Flying Ranee train, renowned for being the inaugural train in Indian Railways’ history to feature double-decker coaches, has now witnessed a spectacular revamp after a span of over 43 years. The latest iteration of the train, however, has done away with the double-decker coaches.
The Union Minister of State for Railways and Textiles, Darshana Jardosh, unveiled the reimagined train and even embarked on a maiden journey from Mumbai Central station to Surat, a route spanning over 200 kilometers.
“Marking the onset of another epoch for the refreshed and improved Flying Ranee – the newest member of Naye Bharat Ki Nayi Rail. Flagged off the Flying Ranee train from Mumbai Central Railway Station as it starts its inaugural journey to Surat with the modern LHB coaches,” tweeted Jardosh, the Lok Sabha representative from the Surat constituency.
“Train travel has a unique allure – it opens the door to new friendships, the creation of invaluable memories, and an opportunity to appreciate the beauty of India’s landscape,” stated the minister.
The newly designed Flying Ranee takes on a revitalized look, aiming to provide an improved level of passenger comfort. The formerly iconic double-decker coaches have been swapped out for the state-of-the-art, high-speed Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches.
The updated train features amenities such as air-conditioned chair cars, second-class seating coaches, a separate coach designated solely for ladies, and another special coach for ladies with season tickets, in addition to the standard coach.
The main objective behind this modernization effort is to ensure a swifter and more enjoyable journey for all passengers.
It was on December 18, 1979, when the Flying Ranee etched its name into the history books of Indian Railways, becoming the first train to be equipped with double-decker coaches.