Move to woo tourists in luxury trains in India
Reporting By M.M.Khanna Travel journalist C/O “indianewscalling.com “
From enjoying the latest Hollywood blockbuster to having a nice body massage in a well equipped spa, railways are planning to introduce a slew of facilities in luxury trains.
Railways are running six luxury tourists trains, including Palace on Wheels, Heritage on Wheels in Rajasthan sector, Fairy Queen on Delhi-Alwar sector, Deccan Odyssey in Maharashtra and Buddhist circuit Special covering places linked with Lord Buddha.
Besides, two luxury trains in Karnataka and Rajsthan are slated to be launched in the tourist season this year while one luxury train in Punjab sector has also been approved.
While the proposed luxury train in the South is to be called Southern Splendor, the train to run in Punjab sector is aptly named as Golden Chariot.
The move is being planned because luxury trains are not drawing enough tourists to make a profit. Save for the Palace on Wheels, which is a big hit with foreigners, none of the others are lucrative business.
As far as financial implications of providing the facilities are concerned, the capital cost of running a luxury train is about Rs 35 crore which has to be jointly shared by the state government and the railways.
Fashion shows, premiering new films, launch of music albums, spas and beauty parlor besides serving the choicest of wines are some of the ideas that are on the list of things to do for luxury trains.On board conferencing facilities will also be provided on the luxury trains.
August 20, 2007
Posted in: Airlines & Railways