Vistadome coaches added to Pune – Mumbai train; Despite announcement no signs in Silchar – Guwahati route

Union Railway Minister Piyush Goyal had, in 2018, announced to introduce vistadome coaches in trains running in routes having scenic beauty. The instructions were issued during a review meeting at N F Railway HQ, at Guwahati, where Badarpur – Lumding section was also included to the list.

From then, two years have passed but no development was noticed until Feb 2021 when the NF railway allotted 2 vistadome coaches to Silchar-Guwahati express train. As per the sources, the NF Railway had been allotted a total of six vistadome coaches where two will be for Silchar Guwahati passenger and one each for Alipurduar Jn. – Siliguri and AlipurduarJn – Lumding train respectively. Two additional coaches were allotted as spare.

Four months have passed since then but no further advancement in this regard has been witnessed. Authorities are still clueless on when the vistadome coaches will reach Silchar and commence journey. If insiders are to be believed, Railways has placed order for several vistadome coaches and they are being shipped to respective locations as they get ready.

The Vistadome tourist coach is provided with larger viewing area including rooftop glasses with 44 seats for passengers with rotation up to 180 degree to face the direction of train movement. Vistadome coaches provide scenic view, through wider body side windows as well as through transparent sections in the roof, thus enabling the passengers to enjoy the natural beauty of the places through which they travel.

मुंबई-पुणे रेलमार्ग पर, विशेष डेक्कन एक्सप्रेस मे लगे पारदर्शी व बड़ी खिड़कियों वाले विस्टाडोम कोच, सफर का आनंद कई गुना बढ़ा रहे हैं।

प्राकृतिक सुंदरता वाले इस मार्ग पर सफर कर रहे यात्री अपने अनुभव साझा कर रहे हैं। यात्रियों के विश्वस्तरीय अनुभव के लिये रेलवे निरंतर प्रयासरत है। pic.twitter.com/zxj3WF4Urt

— Piyush Goyal (@PiyushGoyal) June 26, 2021

The Railway Minister Piyush Goyal recently shared pictures of new Vistadome coach that has been augmented in Mumbai – Pune Deccan express. In a tweet, he said: “Mumbai-Pune-Mumbai via Vistadome: Enjoy the scenic beauty of the Western Ghats with the first-ever Vistadome coach on this route.” The minister further said that the Mumbai-Pune Deccan Express Special Train having the Vistadome coach is all set to be restored on this route from 26th June 2021.

But, out of the four announced trains under Northeast Frontier Railways, where the vistadome coaches will be augmented, none of them have got yet any. “The railways is ready to run the vistadome whenever they are received from the required place. But the time cannot be commented as of now. The decision of running the vistadome coaches in Badarpur – Lumding section was given ‘go ahead’ after taking into consideration of the picturesque hills, through which the train traverses. This is a view which will sell” a senior official said on anonymity.

A tweet put out by NF Railway on Saturday, read “Similar Vistadome coaches are to be introduced soon in sections with abundance of natural beauty in NFR, namely Siliguri – Sevoke – Alipurduar Junction section and Lumding – Badarpur section. These coaches will give a fillip to tourism in these regions”. It was in retweet of Union minister Piyush Goyal’s tweet, sharing images of Mumbai-Pune Deccan Express Special Train.

Now it remains to be seen, how many more days it takes for the national transporter to get the dreams of Barak Vallians meet. The Puneris and Mumbaikars have already started traveling through the Lonavala and Khandala in vistadome coaches. High rise mountains and waterfalls indeed make Pune – Mumbai a journey through the Western Ghats of scenic beauty. But the beauty of the hill section in Assam is not any less appealing by any means. It all depends in the priorities of Indian Railways.

It is the one service that has been relentless connecting the periphery to the core. However, when it comes to vistadome coaches, Piyush Goyal’s ministry gave a not to Pune – Mumbai before Northeast.