Here's all you need to know about Tejas Express

On January 16, Thursday, Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal and Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani inaugurated the prestigious Tejas Express at Ahmedabad. The train has been talk of the town since the last few days due to its luxurious look and train being the country's second private express train. 

Numerous Twitter users posted about the express train and trended the hashtag #GoTejasGo.

Inauguration of Ahmedabad- Mumbai-Ahmedabad Tejas Express on 17 January 2020 today, taking important steps towards fast, safe and responsive rail travel between Mumbai- Ahmedabad#GoTejasGo pic.twitter.com/1I1UBUHmvl

— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) January 17, 2020

While Leftists are burning trains, Modi govt has started another premium train with world class facilities from Ahmedabad to Mumbai. #GoTejasGo pic.twitter.com/2gp0RCkVyd

— Ankur Singh (@iAnkurSingh) January 17, 2020

Bearing the comforts of an airline carrier, the revamped version of Tejas Express is ready to roll between Ahmedabad to Mumbai,

Railways under Minister Piyush Goyal has been able to provide an affordable luxury on tracks #GoTejasGo #Tejas #tejasexpress pic.twitter.com/IRvH9SgnAy

— Geetika Swami (@SwamiGeetika) January 17, 2020

As India gets another private express train, here is all you need to know about Tejas Express:

• Booking: 

The train can be booked on IRCTC website and its mobile app 'Irctc Rail Connect'. There will be no booking at railway reservation counters, as per IRCTC in a press release.

• Luxurious and Spacious: 

The passenger train has a capacity of carrying more than 700 passengers. The train also has two AC executive class chair cars and eight AC chair cars.

• Timings:

Ahmedabad to Mumbai Tejas Express will commence its journey from Ahmedabad at 6:40 am and reach Mumbai Central at 1:10 pm. On the return journey, it will depart from Mumbai Central at 3:40 pm and arrive in Ahmedabad at 9:55 pm. 

• Where Will The Train Halt:

The train will halt at Nadiad, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Vapi and Borivali stations in both directions.

• Fare: 

One can get an advance reservation within the period of 60 days. If passenger cancels tickets, automatic full refund on confirmed or waitlisted e-tickets will be made. The fare for executive chair car from Ahmedabad to Mumbai is ₹2,384. This includes base fair of ₹1,875, GST of ₹94 and catering charge of ₹415. The fare of AC chair car will be ₹1,289, which includes base fair of ₹870, GST ₹44 and catering charge ₹375.

• Food:

Passengers will be served morning welcome tea, breakfast and combo lunch/snacks in Ahmedabad-Mumbai Tejas Express. In addition, tea and coffee vending machines will be available in the train and each coach will have a RO water filter machine.

• Payment on delay:

For the first time, IRCTC has decided to pay the travellers if Mumbai-Ahmedabad Tejas Express is delayed. If the train delays for over an hour, passengers will get a compensation of ₹100. For delay of two hours and more, the passengers will receive ₹250, IRCTC said. There will be no facility of 'tatkal' ticket in the Tejas Express.

• Free insurance:

For the first time, IRCTC is offering free insurance of ₹25 lakh to all the passengers travelling in Mumbai-Ahmedabad Tejas Express. The insurance cover includes ₹1 lakh insurance against theft or robbery during the travel.

Meanwhile, the government is planning to introduce a scheme to run more 150 private trains under its initiative. Also, the government has handed a contract to a private company to transform 50 railway into world-class railway stations  and run 150 passenger trains. Tejas Express is the part of the initiative.