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Shatabdi And Jan Shatabdi Express
Introduced in 1988, the birth Centenary year of the first Prime Minister of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the Shatabdi Express trains are fast passenger trains that connect metro cities to other cities that are important for tourist, pilgrimage or business. The word “Shatabdi” in Sanskrit means “Centenary’.
Considered to be amongst the fastest and prestigious, Shatabdi Express trains are a distinct category of trains having the following special characteristics:
- They are day trains returning to the station of origin on the same day.
- They are fully air-conditioned trains
- They run over short and medium distances.
- They use the latest L.H.B. rakes to provide better comfort.
- Regular speed of these trains is between 130 and 140 kms/hour.
- These trains get priority over other trains and also get the best berthing at stations
- The Bhopal Shatabdi is the first Shatabdi and is also the fastest train in India.
- Passengers are served with meals, tea, coffee and snacks and water.
- Since they are day trains, the coaches do not have berths but comfortable chairs. These coaches are called Chair Cars.
- Some of these trains have been installed with on-board entertainment systems wherein passengers can view movies and television. The Mumbai- Ahmedabad Shatabdi is the first to be installed with such a system.
As on July 01, 2010 there are 14 pairs of Shatabdi trains plying their routes. Many more are on the anvil.
Jan Shatabdi Express
After the introduction of the Shatabdi Express series of trains, cheaper version of the Shatabdi, the Jan Shatabdi Express train series was also introduced.
Jan Shatabdi trains like Shatabdi are fast, short and medium distance trains. To make them more affordable, they are mostly without air-conditioning and do not have many passenger amenities like catering.
The challenges in terms of competition from low-cost airlines are real. Lower standards of service in comparison to international standards is also a matter of concern.