WHAT IS THE FUTURE OF THIS TRAIN??
It was not long ago that a new concept of train was proposed by the Railway Minister. Going by the name of TEJAS, the train would have many modern features like automatic doors, in build entertainment and many others. The train would be a full seating train, which would run during the day time, and return to base by night (Just like Jan Shatabdi and Shatabdi). After a change in livery from grey to yellow, the first of the lot was introduced with much fanfare from Mumbai to Karmali. A few other TEJAS were also proposed to run in routes New Delhi- Lucknow, New Delhi- Chandigarh and Chennai- Madurai. Accordingly, more than 10 months...
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ago, the empty NR marked TEJAS rake for the 22425/6 New Delhi-Chandigarh TEJAS reached Northern Railway, and talks started doing rounds for the inauguration date. In various medias and posts, it was announced that the inauguration would be done on August 15, 2018.
Alas, 8 months have passed since then, but the train is yet to hit the tracks. The wonderful rake is biting the dust for months in a freight siding at Panipat Junction. Recently, the 22671/2 Chennai Madurai TEJAS was inaugurated, and a more modern version of the TEJAS concept also started running between New Delhi and Varanasi under the name of VANDE BHARAT. But alas the Chandigarh TEJAS still exists only on paper and websites like IndiaRailInfo under the heading, "TO BE INAUGURATED".
So what is the future of this train? Would it run sooner or later, or is it doomed?? Is there enough demand to run a TEJAS along with 3 SHATABDIS (2 KALKA and 1 CHANDIGARH)?? My personal opinion is that the rake could have been utilised to inaugurate the 12585/6 New Delhi-Lucknow TEJAS, which I guess would have earned more revenue than this particular TEJAS.
4 months back, I saw a video in YouTube of the rake at Panipat. So last month, while returning from Ludhiana to New Delhi, I went to the door at Panipat. And to no surprise, the rake was still rotting at the siding.
Meanwhile, I was on board UTKRISHT modified 12920 Shri Mata VaishnoDevi Katra (SVDK)- MHOW Dr. Ambedkar Nagar (DADN) MALWA Superfast, which was powered by 22562 BRC WAP- 4E.
MALWA follows the Katra- Jammu Tawi- Pathankot Cantt.- Jalandhar Cantt.- Ludhiana- Ambala Cantt.- Panipat- New Delhi- Mathura- Agra Cantt.- Gwalior- Jhansi- Bina- Bhopal- Ujjain- Indore- MHOW route.