Deccan Queen goes vintage chic at 'Train Mahotsav' in Mumbai

The iconic 95yearold Deccan Queen has taken a leaf out of the Pullman and Orient Express playbook with its revamped dining car Speaking on the occasion a Central Railway spokesperson said It is not just the dining car but the entire train has been refurbishedInspired by 19thcentury luxury trains the new dining coach features sofastyle seating polished wood panelling and a classic dining saloon feel Adorned with Warli paintings sepiatoned frames and warm yellow lighting it recreates the charm of Victorianera rail travelThe Deccan Queen remains the only train in India with a dedicated dining car offering table serviceThe Pullman and Orient Express were known for redefining train travel with plush seating rich wood interiors and understated luxury an experience the new dining car aims to echoldquoIt is not just the dining car but the entire train has been refurbishedrdquo a Central Railway spokesperson said Coach interiors have been redesigned with new panels and vibrant themes Air fragrance dispensers have been installed to enhance the onboard ambience Lavatories have been upgraded with modern fittings and AC chair car seating now has new covers along with improved doorway areasrdquoldquoIt is a brand new train now with a mix of culture heritage and technologyrdquo he addedThe makeover was launched as part of a lsquoTrain Mahotsavrsquo which saw enthusiastic participation from passengers railway officials and rail enthusiasts celebrating the legacy of one of Indian Railwaysrsquo most iconic trainsEvent highlightsThe celebrations began an hour before the trainrsquos scheduled 510 pm departure The Deccan Queen was decorated with flowers reflecting its royal legacy An audiovisual presentation traced its journey since 1930 and highlighted its contributions to Indian RailwaysJourney so farIntroduced in 1930 with two rakes of seven coaches each one in silver with scarlet mouldings and the other in royal blue with gold linesUnderframes built in England with coach bodies made at the Matunga workshop of the GIP RailwayReplaced with steelbodied integral coaches in 1966 increasing capacity from 7 to 12 coachesAirbrake rakes were introduced in 1995Vistadome coach added in August 2021 offering scenic views of the Western GhatsUpgraded to LHB coaches in June 2022 under Project Utkrisht with features like LED lights biotoilets and Braille signageThe train now runs with 16 coaches including AC chair cars second class seating a vistadome coach a dining car a general second class cum guardrsquos brake van and a generator carTrain firstsThe Deccan Queen has several milestones to its nameFirst to introduce coaches with roller bearingsFirst to introduce selfgenerating coaches with a 110volt systemAmong the first to introduce first and second class chair carsUnique feature dining carThe Deccan Queen is the only train in India with a dedicated dining car offering table service It is equipped with modern pantry facilities including a microwave oven deep freezer and toaster and features cushioned seating and carpeted interiors for a premium experienceAdvocate Vijay Sarwade ldquoI have been travelling on this train for decades and have always been drawn to the dining car The timings have been legendary It is for this dining car that I take the train and the new look is just out of the worldrdquoSandeep Ashok ChavanldquoI have been travelling on this train for ten years It is one of the best connections between Mumbai and Pune and is known for its punctualityrdquo