To boost tourism back in the Kashmir Valley has become a matter of priority for both the Central and the State administration. Aiding that process is a decision by the Northern Railways to introduce an all-weather air-conditioned 40-seat train with Vistadome coaches.
A trial run has already been successfully conducted from Nowgam in Srinagar to Sadura in the Anantnag district. Tourists can now hope to witness some of the spectacular sights throughout the year. Only two other train routes in India have Vistadome coaches – the Mumbai-Goa line and the Visakhapatnam-Araku Valley line.
Officials in the Northern Railways are currently working out the commercial and operational modalities of starting this 40-seat train. “We will decide whether the train will ply on the 112-km stretch from Banihal to Baramulla. It is also to be decided whether the train will operate once or multiple times on a given day,” said Hari Mohan, Northern Railway Chief Area Manager in Srinagar.
These trains will be fitted glass-roofed coaches with electrically controlled opalescence, giving passengers a panoramic view of their journey. For a better view, passengers can even make their way to special observation lounges that will feature rotatable-pushback seats. Other features include GPS-based information system, LED lights and automatic sliding compartment doors and much more.
