Double Decker Express
| Double Decker Express | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Service type | Superfast |
| System | 7 |
| Status | Operational on 7 routes |
| Locale | Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan |
| Predecessor | Flying Ranee |
| First service | 1979 (first double-deck trains) 1 October 2011 (Howrah–Dhanbad train became the first air-conditioned Double Decker Express) |
| Successor | Uday Express |
| Current operator | Indian Railways |
| Website | https://indianrail.gov.in |
| Route | |
| Line used | 7 |
| On-board services | |
| Classes | Non-AC and AC Chair Car coaches |
| Seating arrangements | Yes |
| Sleeping arrangements | No |
| Catering facilities | On-board Catering and E-Catering |
| Observation facilities | Large windows in all carriages, Services operated by both state and corporate operators. |
| Entertainment facilities | Electric outlets |
| Baggage facilities | Overhead racks |
| Other facilities | Bio-vacuum toilets Fire & Smoke detection and many more |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | LHB Double Decker ICF Double Decker |
| Track gauge | 1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge |
| Electrification | 25 kV AC at 50 Hz |
| Operating speed | 130 km/h (81 mph) |
Double Decker Express are a series of trains started by Indian Railways for shorter routes in order to serve more people than a traditional chair car carriage.
The Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express was the first of its type to be introduced.
Rake
[edit]Double Decker Express are composed of bi-level seating arrangements for passengers with seating capacity of 120 seats,[1] divided into lower deck, upper deck and mezzanine seating area. The old Double Decker were non AC ICF coaches. In 2011, new fully-AC Stainless Steel LHB Double Decker were introduced in India. Stainless Steel LHB Coaches built at Kapurthala Coach Factory are utilized for AC Double Decker trains.
Traction
[edit]All Double Decker Express trains pulled by all locomotive genre (motive power) like diesel and electric are WAP-4, WAP-5, WAP 7, WCAM-3, WDP-4, WDM-3A and WDM-3D
AC Double Decker Services
[edit]| Train no. | Route | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| 12931/12932 | Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Double Decker Express | 491 km |
| 22625/22626 | Chennai–Bangalore Double Decker Express | 359 km |
| 12583/12584 | Lucknow Junction–Anand Vihar Terminal Double Decker Express | 479 km |
| 12985/12986 | Jaipur–Delhi Sarai Rohilla AC Double Decker Express | 304 km |
| 22707/22708 | Visakhapatnam–Tirupati Double Decker Express | 761 km |
UDAY Express
[edit]In 2018, a new generation of Double Decker Express trains were introduced in Indian Railways named as UDAY Express - Utkrisht Double Decker Air Conditioned Yatri Express trains, designed by RDSO. The coaches of these trains have an anti-graffiti vinyl wrapped exterior and have been given a bright color scheme of yellow, orange and pink - somewhat similar to that of the Tejas Express. The UDAY express was envisioned as a premium train service for business travelers. According to Indian Railways, Uday Express will cater to the "busiest routes" and increase carrying capacity by 40%. These trains have airline styled seating with a capacity of 120 passengers per coach (50 for upper deck, 48 for lower deck and 22 on the ends) as compared to Shatabdis which can seat up to 78.[2][3][4] These coaches are also equipped with WiFi infotainment system, have information screens just like Humsafar Express and have small dining area in coaches. Uday Express can run at a maximum speed of 110 km/h and an average speed of 62 km/h.[citation needed]
Services
[edit]The first service was launched on 10 June 2018 between Coimbatore Junction and Bangalore[5] having halts at Krishnarajapuram, Kuppam, Salem Jn, Erode Jn, Tiruppur Jn and Coimbatore Jn. The second service was launched on 26 September 2019 between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada with 7 stops en route, and was later extended till Guntur.
| Train no. | Train name | Distance | Frequency | Zone |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 22665/22666 | KSR Bengaluru–Coimbatore Uday Express | 419 km
Daily |
Daily | Southern Railway zone |
| 22701/22702 | Visakhapatnam–Guntur Uday Express | 384 km | 5 days a week except Thu, Sun | South Coast Railway zone |
Defunct AC Double Decker Services
[edit]| Train no. | Route | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11085/11086 & 11099/11100 | Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Madgaon AC Double Decker Express | 592 km | Discontinued |
| 22117/22118 | Guntur–Kacheguda AC Double Decker Express | 287 km | Cancelled |
| 22183/22184 | Habibganj–Indore Junction AC Double Decker Express | 259 km | Discontinued due to low occupancy. |
| 12385/12386 | Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express | 263 km | This train was the first AC Double Decker train in India. The train was stopped and discontinued after 8 November 2016 due to many challenges, low occupancy and poor performance. |
| 22119/22110 | Kacheguda–Tirupati Double Decker Express | 636 km | Cancelled |
Defunct Non-AC Double Decker Services
[edit]| Name | Train no. | Route | Distance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sinhagad Express | 11009/11010 | Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune | 192 km | First train to have double deck rake in India.[6] About ten coaches were attached but were removed eventually. |
| Deccan Queen Superfast Express | 12123/12124 | Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune | 192 km | Used to haul Double Decker bogies during 1980s but were eventually removed.[7] |
| Deccan Express | 11007/11008 | Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune | 192 km | One or two Double Decker coaches were added. This did not last for long and the coaches were removed. |
| Sahyadri Express | 11023/11024 | Mumbai CSM Terminus – Kolhapur | 518 km | Hauled Double Decker coaches between Mumbai and Pune and vice versa. But today has Single Decker coaches only. |
| Panchvati Express | 12109/12110 | Mumbai CSM Terminus–Manmad | 258 km | This train used to haul Non-AC Double Decker bogies in the 1990s. |
| Mumbai–Pune Passenger | — | Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune | 192 km | This train used to haul Double Decker bogies. This train has been shut down due to introduction of Mumbai CST–Sainagar Shirdi Fast Passenger / Mumbai CST–Pandharpur Fast Passenger / Mumbai CSMT–Vijapura Fast Passenger. |
| Flying Ranee | 12921/12922 | Mumbai Central–Surat | 263 km | This train lost its double-decker coaches when it was upgraded to run with a new LHB rake in July 2023.[8] |
| Mumbai Central–Valsad Fast Passenger | 59023/59024 | Mumbai Central–Valsad | 195 km | This train's double-decker coaches were retired and replaced with conventional ICF coaches on 5 January 2025.[9] |
See also
[edit]- AC Superfast Express
- Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor
- Vande Bharat Express
- Humsafar Express
- Antyodaya Express
- Uday Express
- Tejas Express
- Mahamana Express
- Gatimaan Express
- Rajdhani Express
- Shatabdi Express
- Jan Shatabdi Express
- Sampark Kranti Express
- Jan Sadharan Express
- Garib Rath Express
- Duronto Express
- Rajya Rani Express
- Kavi Guru Express
- Vivek Express
- Yuva Express
References
[edit]- ↑ "News of the non AC Double Decker (Oldest Double Decker) : Indian express.com". indianexpress.com. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
- ↑ "Humsafar to Uday: With 4 new trains, Prabhu offers solutions to all". www.hindustantimes.com. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ↑ "New train: Indian Railways UDAY Express from Coimbatore to Bengaluru soon; boasts of automatic food vending machines and LCD screens". The Financial Express. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ↑ "UDAY Express: Indian Railways' new train for business travellers! Sneak-peek into interior; 15 stunning images". The Financial Express. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ↑ "Uday Express: Coimbatore-Bengaluru double-decker train to run from June 10 - Decked up". The Economic Times. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
- ↑ "Railway Budget speech 1979-80. First double decker service (page no.373)" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Government of India, Ministry of Railways. 20 February 1979.
- ↑ "Deccan Queen". Archived from the original on 28 November 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
- ↑ "No more double decker for Flying Ranee, new rake in". The Times of India. 17 July 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
- ↑ "Mumbai's Iconic Non-AC Double-Decker Passenger Train Coaches To Be Phased Out & Replaced With Conventional Coaches". Free Press Journal. Retrieved 5 January 2025.
| Operational (non-AC) |  | |
|---|---|---|
| Operational (AC) | ||
| Defunct | ||
