First Private Train From Kerala to Start From June 4

If Kerala is on your mind this summer, there's one more reason to cheer! The state is set to flag off its first ever privately run train service. The train will ride from Thiruvananthapuram, beginning June 4. The private train is part of the Bharat Gaurav Yatra initiative of the Indian Railways. The private train project is a joint venture between Princy World Travels and SRMPR Global Railways.

“Under this private partnership in collaboration with Indian Railways’, the SRMPR has hired a train from the Railways to run tourist services from Kerala. The train, staff and other facilities will be provided by the SRMPR, while services like ticketing and marketing are being done by Princy Travels, ” Devika Menon, Director of Princy Travels, was quoted saying in The Financial Express.

Package Details

If passengers are taking a trip to Goa, Mumbai, or Ayodhya, there are a host of packages available. The cost of these packages differ based on the choice of accommodation chosen by the passengers. For a trip to Goa or Mumbai, the price of the package could be anywhere between Rs 13,999 and Rs 18,825.

For the temple city of Ayodhya, the cost is higher, given the distance and ranges between Rs 30,550 and Rs 37,150. The Ayodhya package gives passengers the opportunity to explore the temples across Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Prayagraj. For kids less than 10 years, there are no ticket charges, and children above 10 get a 50% discount.

Train Facilities

The private train can carry 750 passengers across  2 sleeper class bogies, 11 third-class AC coaches, and 2 second-class air-conditioned coaches. Thw crew of 60 includes medical experts. The train comes with a vast catering facility, wi-fi, and a GPS tracking system. The private train extends to star hotel stays, a variety of meals and sightseeing tours.

The company plans to operate12 trains from Kerala, once the initial three routes gain polularity. The SRMPR group will import special trains from Germany.  “The trains have limited stops and only those who have booked the tickets can enter the train. A total of 60 staff, including the paramedical team and pantry, are available onboard,” said Devika Menon, director of Princy World Travel.

Borading Stations

The train can be boarded from Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod in Kerala.