(a) whether the Government has recently unveiled Antyodaya Express, a new train for the unreserved passengers and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the coaches of train are fully unreserved LHB (Linke Hofmann Busch) second class coaches with additional safety features and if so, the details thereof;
(c) the routes selected for the Antyodaya Express; and
(d) whether any route from Tamil Nadu has also been included and if so, the details thereof and the fare details of the train?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a) to (c): Introduction of fully unreserved Antyodaya Express trains on dense routes for the common man has been announced in Railway Budget 2016-17. The coaches of Antyodaya Express trains are Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) type second class coaches with vestibules (interconnection between coaches) for facilitating movement of passengers as well as service staff. Antyodaya coaches have additional features such as cushioned luggage racks which can serve as seat during rush, additional hand holds in doorway area, J hooks near longitudinal luggage racks, Potable Water through Water filtration system, enhanced number of Mobile charging points and Fire extinguishers with anti-theft arrangement. Antyodaya coaches also have a more pleasing colour scheme. Introduction of 7 Antyodaya Express trains has been notified. The details are as under:
(i) 15567/15568 Darbhanga-Jalandhar City Antyodaya Express (Weekly)
(ii) 22885/22886 Lokmanya Tilak(T)-Tatanagar Antyodaya Express (Bi-weekly)
(iii) 22841/22842 Santragachi-Chennai Central Antyodaya Express (Weekly)
(iv) 22895/22896 Bilaspur-Firozpur Antyodaya Express (Weekly)
(v) 22921/22922 Bandra(T)-Gorakhpur Antyodaya Express (Weekly)
(vi) 22877/22878 Howrah-Ernakulam Antyodaya Express (Weekly)
(vii) 15563/15564 Jaynagar-Udhna Antyodaya Express (Weekly)
(d): Indian Railways do not introduce new train on State-wise basis as railway network and train operations straddles across State boundaries. However, the Antyodaya train services serving the stations situated in the State of Tamil Nadu are as under:
(i) 22841/22842 Santragachi-Chennai Central Antyodaya Express (Weekly)
(ii) 22877/22878 Howrah-Ernakulam Antyodaya Express (Weekly)
The base fare of unreserved second class of Antyodaya Express train which has only unreserved second class coaches shall be 15% higher than the base fare of unreserved second class of Mail/Express train. Other charges like Superfast surcharge, Mela surcharge, etc., if applicable, shall be levied separately.
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