NEW DELHI – The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), and Cox and Kings India have signed a joint venture agreement to set up a company called the Royale Indian Rail Tours to manage and operate the first pan-India luxury tourist train.
The train is scheduled to start operations in the third quarter of 2009.
IRCTC managing director, Dr Nalin Shinghal said the train, which would travel through multiple states in India, would be a landmark in the growth of luxury tourism in India.
The Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation Limited, a public sector enterprise under the Ministry of Railways, is the tourism arm of Indian Railways.
Cox and Kings managing director, Peter Kerkar said the train would redefine luxury trains “not just in India but the worldâ€.
It will carry nearly 100 passengers in 15 coaches and will have two bars and two restaurants.
The company will offer two itineraries. The first is the Princely India Tour which is a seven-night itinerary that follows the Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Udaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer-Jaipur-Delhi route.
The second is the Classical India tour which is also a seven-night itinerary through Delhi-Agra-Gwalior-Khajuraho-Varanasi and Patna.
