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Railways roll out red carpet for corporates in luxury train

In the latest business move by Railways's subsidiary IRCTC, Maharajas' Express will be promoted to domestic travellers

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Looking towards corporate clientele, for the first time Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has begun marketing its luxury trains to Indians. Otherwise, the focus areas have always been international tourists, with a few Indians hopping on board.

There is a handful of luxury trains with the Indian Railways, some of them being Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, The Golden Chariot.

In the latest business move by Railways's subsidiary IRCTC, Maharajas' Express will be promoted to domestic travellers.

"This year, IRCTC has decided to start two new circuits of their flagship luxury train Maharajas' Express. They have been named as 'Southern Sojourn' and 'Southern Jewels' covering prominent destinations in western and southern India," said Arvind Malkhede, group general manager (West zone), IRCTC. These two circuits are planned during the monsoon period of June-July 2017.

As per the details available, the Southern Sojourn will cover Goa, Hampi, Mysore, Ernakulam, Kumarakom and Trivandrum whereas Southern Jewels will cover Chettinad, Mahabalipuram, Mysore, Hampi and Goa.

The decision to change the focus group came in after having some positive feelers from the Indian corporate clientele. Usually, corporates reward their top-performing dealers and distributors in some way or the other. "Sometimes, they are booked on charters or cruise liners. Now such multi-national companies can make a booking for Maharajas' Express," said another senior IRCTC official.

In fact, IRCTC officials are also looking at hosting weddings, fashion shows, corporate events and product launches on board.

"Excluding taxes, the fare ranges from Rs 3,77,670 for a deluxe cabin to Rs 17,33,410 for the presidential suite for this 23-coach long luxury train having a capacity for 88 guests. For our Indian bookings for monsoon special rides, we have promotional offers," said an official.

If any foreign national is keen to come on board for this week-long monsoon special journey, they will not be denied a reservation.

On the booking of the first adult on twin-sharing at full cost, the second adult sharing the same cabin will be on a complimentary basis. Moreover, a guest booking a deluxe cabin gets a chance to upgrade to a junior suite by paying 50% of the difference in tariff between a junior suite and a deluxe cabin. Additionally, for those booking online or directly through phone, a redeemable voucher of $250 or around Rs 16,000 for each individual guest will be offered free of cost.

Usually, the peak season or operating season for Maharajas' Express is from September to April. By having a couple of circuits in southern India during monsoon, IRCTC officials are trying to test waters if the revenue generation period can be extended by a few more weeks.

PALACE ON WHEELS

  • New circuits of Maharajas’ Express - Southern Sojourn and Southern Jewels - to start during monsoon
     
  • The fare ranges from Rs 3,77,670 to Rs 17,33,410, excluding taxes
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