Most of us cherish a childhood recollection of taking a train ride as it is a genuinely iconic Indian experience as train rides provide passengers with a high level of excitement while the luxury train travel launched in India to raise the bar for Indian railway travel, has been unquestionably a game-changer. It is not surprising that vacations help us de-stress because we do things that make us happy and distract our minds and travel gives us a much-needed break from our hectic lifestyles but lately travelling by road is becoming increasingly difficult, as is air travel and everyone is aware of the horrifying traffic jams at popular destinations and airport chaos that has made international headlines.
On the contrary, train journeys are unquestionably a joyous occasion and a huge increase in rail travel has recently been observed as tourists now prefer it to visit India’s natural wonders. According to the Railway Ministry, the Indian Railways has recorded 76 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth in its passenger revenue in the first eight months of this financial year.
In an interview with HT Lifestyle, Liberatha Kallat, Chairperson and Managing Director at DreamFolks Services Limited, shared, “India is a land of diversity and splendour and one of the best ways to experience its beauty is to travel via railways. With the recent advancements in the railway sector, travellers can now enjoy an unparalleled travel experience. From online ticketing, real-time tracking, mobile apps, advanced trains, India can be explored in comfort and style and now railways are also offering newly introduced luxurious railway lounges which are gaining popularity.”
She added, “Railway lounges in cities like Agra, Ahmedabad, Asansol, Delhi, Jaipur, Kolkata, Madurai, Varanasi, and many more in the pipeline offer a perfect blend of traditional Indian hospitality with modern amenities, giving travellers the charm of both worlds. These lounges have raised the bar for travel experiences, making railways a more luxe, sophisticated and the preferred choice of expedition in India.”
According to Abhilasha Negi, Co-Founder of SanKash, Goa is India’s party capital and is the first place that comes to mind when thinking of taking a quick break from the hectic lifestyle of Mumbai. She said, “While travelling by plane is always an option for tourists, taking the train from Mumbai to Goa promises a unique experience. The scenery along the way is so breath-taking that travellers can’t help but be in awe of it. We also observed that these days, many prefer to go by train to Shimla from Kalka.”
She revealed, “The Himalayan Queen train, which runs on a small gauge between Kalka and Shimla, is more akin to a toy train. It departs from Kalka and ascends around 96 kilometres, offering passengers spectacular views of the region’s rich pine woods, beautiful valleys, and peaceful hill towns. The voyage is magnificent since the train travels through 102 tunnels, crosses 864 bridges, and navigates 919 curves. Additionally, there was a rise in demand for religious destinations, with search queries for rail travel to Varanasi growing by 50% and those for train travel to Tirupati tripling in the previous year.”