A train of many firsts
On June 1, 1930, India got its first luxury train, the Deccan Queen Express. Connecting Maharashtra’s neighbouring cities of Bombay and Pune, it was christened the ‘Queen of Deccan’ or ‘Dakkhan ki Rani’.
Deccan Queen’s launch was a landmark event in Indian Railway history under the Great Indian Peninsula Railway (GIPR), now Central Railway. It quickly became one of its most prestigious trains and was widely hailed for its punctuality.
Originally, the train ran with two rakes of 7 coaches, one silver with scarlet moldings, and the other royal blue with gold lines. The coach underframes were built in England, while the bodies were constructed in Mumbai’s Matunga Workshop.
Legacy on steel tracks
Deccan Queen got steel-bodied coaches in 1966, air brake rakes in 1995, and a Vistadome coach for panoramic Western Ghats views in 2021.
In June 2022, all coaches were upgraded to modern Linke-Hofmann-Busch coaches (LHB) coaches, known for their advanced design and features under Project Utkrisht undertaken to upgrade India’s mail and express trains.
Today, the train runs with 16 coaches: 3 AC Chair Cars, 9 Second Class Chair Cars, 1 Vistadome Coach, 1 Dining Car, 1 General Second Class + Guard’s Van, and a Generator Car.
Deccan Queen is the only Indian train with a dedicated dining car. It offers table service with modern amenities like a microwave, deep freezer, toaster, cushioned seating, and carpeted floors.
It was the first train to feature first and second-class chair cars, roller-bearing coaches, self-generating coaches with a 110-volt system, and a consistently high record of punctuality.
For 95 years, the Deccan Queen has not just transported passengers but has fostered a loyal community. Its impeccable record and reliability have made it an institution beloved by generations of commuters.
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