Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to flag off the Steam Heritage Special Train between Ekta Nagar and Ahmedabad via video conferencing from Ekta Nagar (Kevadiya) on Tuesday, October 31. This special train will be a tribute to the Iron Man of India, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, which is being celebrated as the National Unity Day.
According to the Western Railway, the Ekta Nagar railway station caters rail connectivity to the Statue of Unity in Gujarat. The station serves a large number of tourists from across the country coming to view the statue. Moreover, the Steam Heritage Special Train will be yet another add-on for the convenience of the passengers which will provide them with an experience of the bygone era of steam locomotives.
While sharing the date of inauguration and picture of the Steam Heritage Special Train, Western Railway wrote on X, “Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi will flag off the inaugural run of Steam Heritage Special Train between Ekta Nagar & Ahmedabad today through video link from Ekta Nagar. This train is a befitting tribute to the great son of our country, the Iron Man of India - Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.”
According to the officials of Western Railway, the regular run of Train No. 09409/09410 Ahmedabad-Ekta Nagar Steam Heritage Special Train will begin on November 5, 2023.
The Train No. 09409 Ahmedabad-Ekta Nagar train will depart from Ahmedabad at 6:10 am every Sunday and will arrive at the destination, Ekta Nagar station at 9:50 am on the same day. Similarly, Train No. 09410 Ekta Nagar-Ahmedabad Steam Heritage Special
Train will depart from Ekta Nagar at 8:35 pm every Sunday and will reach Ahmedabad at 12:05 am, according to a Times of India report.
The bookings for the train are open with immediate effect at all the passenger reservation system (PRS) counters and on the official website of IRCTC. However, the Advance Reservation Period (ARP) of the trains will be of 30 days.
The Steam
Heritage Special Train is a replica of the first indigenously built steam Loco No. F734. Besides the unique and nostalgic look, the heritage special train is also well equipped with updated interiors and luxurious amenities that would provide the passengers with a memorable journey. It consists of four air-conditioned Vistadome-type coaches; including three air-conditioned executive chair car coaches and a restaurant dining car.
Key features of Steam Heritage Special Train
The motor coach of the train is designed as the steam locomotive.
It has panoramic windows with roller blinds.
It has an AC restaurant dining car with a seating capacity of 28 passengers. The interior of the dining car consists of teak wood dining tables and a two-seater sofa with cushioned seats.
It has a flameless pantry arrangement and electrically operated equipment.
The train has Fiber Reinforced Plastic (FRP) modular toilets with branded fittings.
It has GPS based on Public address and Passenger Information System (PAPIS).
The luggage rack arrangements are similar to TEJAS Express coaches.
The sliding doors of the compartment are automatic and electrically operated.Earlier this month, PM Modi on October 5 inaugurated Rajasthan’s first heritage
train, the Heritage Special-Marwar Express from Jodhpur. The heritage train of Rajasthan operates between Marwar Junction Railway Station in the Pali district and Kamlighat Railway Station in the Rajsamand district.
The train travels through beautiful valleys like Goram Ghat, and the Bhil Beri waterfall. The train also goes through a spiral-shaped winding tunnel bridge, giving it a heritage look like a 150-year-old steam locomotive.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
