India's fastest train Gatimaan Express to become operational by March 2016

AGRA: By the end of this financial year that is March 2016, India's fastest train Gatimaan Express will start operating between New Delhi- Agra cantt stations, claimed Arun Saxena, general manager of North Central Railway.

Saxena who came to Agra on a biannual meeting with Members of Parliaments to discuss the strategy of upgrading small stations with better amenities for passenger, said, "We have received assent note for the operations of Gatimaan Express from commissioner of railway safety 15 days back, but before that, some minor technical issues need to be taken care of which have been pointed out by CRS."

"In its all trial runs, semi high speed Gatimaan has successfully achieved the set parameters and we can now start the operations by the end of financial year," he said. Till now the railway has done six trail runs, recent one was on June 2 in which train was late by 10 minutes from its proposed time of completing the 195 km long journey in 105 minutes (one hour 25 minutes). Currently, with two minutes of halt at Mathura station, Bhopal Habibganj Shatabdi Express takes two hours six minutes to reach Agra from New Delhi.

The running schedule of the train as well as the fares have already been decided by the railway authorities.

According to railway, one side fare of air-conditioned chair car between the two destinations has been fixed at Rs 690, while a passenger will be required to spend Rs 1,365 for the executive class.

For Shatabadi, a passenger is required to Rs 540 for chair car, and Rs 1,040 for executive class.

The train will cover its journey from Agra at 5.30 pm and reach Delhi at 7.15 pm. On the opposite side, it will start from Delhi at 8 am and reach Agra by 9.45 am.