Kerala is going to operate its first-ever private train service, leaving from Thiruvananthapuram, on June 4.
This service, which is geared at tourists, will be run by SRMPR Global Railways Private Limited in association with Princy World Travels Private Limited as part of Indian Railways’ Bharat Gaurav Yatra project.
This special collaboration with Indian Railways has allowed SRMPR to lease a train and run tourism operations in Kerala. Devika Menon, Director of Princy World Travels, clarified, “Princy Travels handles ticketing and marketing, while SRMPR manages the train and its amenities.
The first trip would be to Goa, with plans to make stops in Mumbai and Ayodhya. A number of stations, including Trivandrum, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasargode, are where passengers can board.
The train has two sleeper class coaches, eleven third-class AC coaches, and two second-class AC coaches, and it can hold 750 passengers. Entire crew of sixty, including doctors, will be on board to make sure everyone is comfortable and secure. Tour packages that include star hotel stays, dinners, and sightseeing will be offered, along with amenities like food, Wi-Fi, and GPS monitoring.
Passengers are in for a treat, with food, Wi-Fi, and a GPS monitoring system included. Meals, sightseeing experiences, and accommodations in five-star hotels are all included in the tour package.
The non-AC sleeper price for a four-day trip to Goa is Rs. 13,999. The fare for 3-tier air conditioning goes up to Rs. 15,150, and 2-tier air conditioning costs Rs. 16,400. Similarly, the fares for a travel to Mumbai are INR 15,050, INR 16,920, and INR 18,825, respectively.
Priced at Rs. 30,550 for a non-AC sleeper, Rs. 33,850 for a 3-tier AC, and Rs. 37,150 for a 2-tier AC, the 8-day Ayodhya tour covers religious sites in Ayodhya, Varanasi, and Prayagraj. Youngsters under five go free of charge, and those between five and ten pay half the adult price.