Double Decker Express

Double Decker Express are a series of trains started by Indian Railways for shorter routes in order to serve more people than a traditional chair car carriage.

Double Decker Express
Jaipur–Delhi Sarai Rohilla AC Double Decker Express at Delhi Sarai Rohilla
Overview
Service type	Superfast
System	6 (AC) + 2 (Mixed)
Status	Operational in 8 routes
Locale	Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan
First service	24 August 2012; 11 years ago (2012-08-24)
Successor	Uday Express
Current operator(s)	Indian Railways
Website	https://indianrail.gov.in
Route
Line(s) used	8
On-board services
Class(es)	AC Chair Car coaches
Seating arrangements	Yes
Sleeping arrangements	No
Catering facilities	On-board Catering and E-Catering
Observation facilities	Large windows in all carriages, Services operated by both state and corporate operators.
Entertainment facilities	Electric outlets
Baggage facilities	Overhead racks
Other facilities	Bio-vacuum toilets Fire & Smoke detection and many more
Technical
Rolling stock	LHB Double Decker
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in) broad gauge
Electrification	25 kV AC at 50 Hz
Operating speed	130 km/h (81 mph)

Rake

Double Decker Express are composed of bi-level seating arrangements for passengers with seating capacity of 120 seats,^[1] divided into lower deck, upper deck and mezzanine seating area. These days, stainless steel LHB Coaches built at Kapurthala Coach Factory are utilized in AC Double Decker Trains. The Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express was the first of its type to be introduced.

UDAY Express

In 2018, a new generation of Double Decker Express trains were introduced in Indian Railways named as UDAY Express - Utkrisht Double Decker Air Conditioned Yatri Express trains, designed by RDSO. The coaches of these trains have an anti-graffiti vinyl wrapped exterior and have been given a bright color scheme of yellow, orange and pink - somewhat similar to that of the Tejas Express. The train service has been envisioned as a 'luxury' train service for business travelers. According to Indian Railways, Uday Express will cater to the "busiest routes" and increase carrying capacity by 40%. These trains have airline syled seating with a capacity of 120 passengers per coach (50 for upper deck, 48 for lower deck and 22 on the ends) as compared to Shatabdis which can seat up to 78.^[2][3][4] Also, these coaches are equipped with WiFi infotainment system, have information screens just like Humsafar Express and small dining area in coaches. Uday Express can run maximum 110 km/h and average 62 km/h.^{[citation needed]}

Services

The first service was launched on 10 June 2018 between Coimbatore Junction and Bangalore^[5] having halts at Krishnarajapuram, Kuppam, Salem Jn, Erode Jn, Tiruppur Jn and Coimbatore Jn. The second service was launched on 26 September 2019 between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada with 7 stops en route, and was later extended till Guntur.

Train no.	Train name	Distance	Frequency	Zone
22665/22666	KSR Bengaluru–Coimbatore Uday Express	419 km Daily	Daily	Southern Railway zone
22701/22702	Visakhapatnam–Guntur Uday Express	384 km	5 days a week except Thu, Sun	South Coast Railway zone

AC Double Decker Services

Currently operational train list

Train no.	Route	Distance
12931/12932	Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Double Decker Express	491 km
22625/22626	Chennai–Bangalore Double Decker Express	359 km
12583/12584	Lucknow Junction–Anand Vihar Terminal Double Decker Express	479 km
12985/12986	Jaipur–Delhi Sarai Rohilla AC Double Decker Express	304 km
22707/22708	Visakhapatnam–Tirupati Double Decker Express	761 km

Defunct AC Double Decker Services

Formerly operational train list

Train no.	Route	Distance
11085/11086 & 11099/11100	Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Madgaon AC Double Decker Express	592 km
22185/22186	Bhopal–Indore AC Double Decker Express	263 km
22117/22118	Guntur–Kacheguda AC Double Decker Express	287 km
22183/22184	Habibganj–Indore Junction AC Double Decker Express	259 km
12385/12386	Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express	263 km
22119/22110	Kacheguda–Tirupati Double Decker Express	636 km

Non-AC Double Decker Services

Currently operational train list

Name	Train no.	Route	Distance	Notes
Mumbai Central–Valsad Fast Passenger	59023/59024	Mumbai Central–Valsad	195 km	The only train which currently gets non-AC double decker coaches in Indian Railways.^[6]

Defunct Non-AC Double Decker Services

Formerly operational train list

Name	Train no.	Route	Distance	Notes
Sinhagad Express	11009/11010	Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune	192 km	First train to have double deck rake in India.^[7] About ten coaches were attached but were removed eventually.
Deccan Queen Superfast Express	12123/12124	Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune	192 km	Used to haul Double Decker bogies during 1980s but were eventually removed.^[8]
Deccan Express	11007/11008	Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune	192 km	One or two Double Decker coaches were added. This did not last for long and the coaches were removed.
Sahyadri Express	11023/11024	Mumbai CSM Terminus – Kolhapur	518 km	Hauled Double Decker coaches between Mumbai and Pune and vice versa. But today has Single Decker coaches only.
Panchvati Express	12109/12110	Mumbai CSM Terminus–Manmad	258 km	This train used to haul Non-AC Double Decker bogies in the 1990s.
Mumbai–Pune Passenger	—	Mumbai CSM Terminus–Pune	192 km	This train used to haul Double Decker bogies. This train has been shut down due to introduction of Mumbai CST–Sainagar Shirdi Fast Passenger / Mumbai CST–Pandharpur Fast Passenger / Mumbai CSMT–Vijapura Fast Passenger.
Flying Ranee	12921/12922	Mumbai Central–Surat	263 km	This train lost its double-decker coaches when it was upgraded to run with a new LHB rake in July 2023.^[9]

See also

• AC Superfast Express
• Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail corridor
• Vande Bharat Express
• Humsafar Express
• Antyodaya Express
• Uday Express
• Tejas Express
• Mahamana Express
• Gatimaan Express
• Rajdhani Express
• Shatabdi Express
• Jan Shatabdi Express
• Sampark Kranti Express
• Jan Sadharan Express
• Garib Rath Express
• Duronto Express
• Rajya Rani Express
• Kavi Guru Express
• Vivek Express
• Yuva Express

References

1. "Seat Map of AC Chair Car (Double Decker) : etrain.info". etrain.info. Retrieved 29 August 2021.
2. "Humsafar to Uday: With 4 new trains, Prabhu offers solutions to all". www.hindustantimes.com. 25 February 2016. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
3. "New train: Indian Railways UDAY Express from Coimbatore to Bengaluru soon; boasts of automatic food vending machines and LCD screens". The Financial Express. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
4. "UDAY Express: Indian Railways' new train for business travellers! Sneak-peek into interior; 15 stunning images". The Financial Express. 7 February 2018. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
5. "Uday Express: Coimbatore-Bengaluru double-decker train to run from June 10 - Decked up". The Economic Times. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
6. Old-timers recollect double-decker days
7. "Railway Budget speech 1979-80. First double decker service (page no.373)" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Government of India, Ministry of Railways. 20 February 1979.
8. . Archived from the original on 28 November 2006. Retrieved 1 April 2016.
9. "No more double decker for Flying Ranee, new rake in". The Times of India. 17 July 2023. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 16 March 2024.