India is a diverse nation, and it takes immense pride in its very large railway network, which also happens to be the second largest network of the world. The railways are continuously developing and evolving to new heights. Most Indians prefer travelling by the train due to several reasons. The fares are much more affordable compared to the soaring high priced tickets of the flights. Also, Indian rail reservation is an easy online process and saved people a lot of hassle. Here are the various types of trains offered by the Indian railways. Let’s take a journey through them.
Duronto Express – Known as the fastest train in India. If you want to save time and want a train, which runs at a very fast speed, then your priority should be the duronto express. It was introduced only a few years ago and has several facilities such as serving of food, distributing napkins and blankets, serving snacks, etc. The train’s outer design is distinct from other trains. Also, apart from a very few technical spots, this train does not stop at any station in between the station source and station destination. This train by far is the fastest way to travel by land in the country.
The Rajdhani Express – This is the good old train. The Rajdhani Express is one of the oldest operating trains in India. It is considered as a train, which provides both speed as well as luxury. After Duronto Express, this is the second fastest train in India. Unlike Duronto, the Rajdhani Express has a few station halts and this is why it takes a little more time than the Duronto Express to cover the same distance. This train was launched back in the 1960s to connect the capital Delhi to other parts of the country.
The Shatabdi Express – If you do not like the idea of travelling by bus, the Shatabdi Express makes for a good alternative. The train connects all the parts of the country to the major cities. However, the Shatabdi mostly runs during the day and only a few trains run overnight. The Shatabdi unlike other express trains does not have a sleeper class. The arrangement inside is somewhat like that on a flight. The Shatabdi is best for short distance travellers. You can buy a ticket for this train even at the last minute. No reservations need to be done days in advance.
The Garib Rath Express –This is a newly introduced express train that has 3E ac classes. A few of these trains also comprise of CC coaches. This is the first ever train, which has a 3E class. It has an additional side berth unlike the other trains. This is a fully air conditioned train and is especially for those who cannot afford the high rates of tickets of other express trains. Garib Rath is an implication of chariot of the poor.
So, now if you know which train suits your destination, time and budget, get set go! Happy journey!