Now, get 2 for price of 1 in Maharajas’ Express

Mumbai: After failing to woo Indians to its luxury trains, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has launched a campaign in which passengers will get one ticket free on the purchase of one ticket in the Maharajas’ Express. The Maharajas’ Express is a highly regarded luxury train that has won numerous travel awards.

Passengers who want to experience luxury trains but have not been able to do so will get one of the best bargains by the railways this summer, as two people can travel in the Maharajas’ Express for two nights and three days at the cost of only one. This will now cost only around `72,000 — it used to cost double earlier. The train will take passengers to regions like South India, Goa and Hampi.

Officials said the entire package that varies from seven to eight days costs around `5 lakh. This means that those who book for the entire journey will get to take one more person along for services worth `5 lakh. An IRCTC official said, “We think we will get a lot of interest in this trip as many people do want to take their spouse for these journeys but find a price of `10 lakh too high. Now we have made this amount half for a couple who might want to travel in the Maharajas’ Express.”

Most of the clientele for luxury trains have been train enthusiasts or foreigners who find it affordable, but last year the IRCTC did try to bring the experience of luxury trains to Indians and particularly Mumbaikars. However, it found few takers.

The Maharajas’ Express, operated by IRCTC, will begin two new tour circuits focussing especially on domestic travellers from September this year.

The two new tours have been named as ‘Southern Sojourn’ and ‘Southern Jewels’ respectively. The former will take passengers to Goa, Hampi, Mysore, Ernakulam, Kumarakom and Trivandrum while the latter trip will be to Chettinad, Mahabalipuram, Mysore, Hampi and Goa