India’s luxury trains operations like Maharaja Express, Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey and Golden Chariot have been adversely affected due to Covid. However, occupancy remains an issue in most of them, even as operations have resumed.
According to a recent response by Railway Minister Ashwini Vashinav in the Rajya Sabha, the cumulative earnings of these four elite trains stood at Rs 19.89 crore till November of this fiscal, even as Covid affected operations in the last two years.
“Operation of luxury tourist trains has been adversely affected due to COVID-19,” he added.
Of these four super-elite trains, Maharaja Express operates on five routes, which remain open between October and April, with fares ranging between ₹2 to 5 lakh.
The Palace on Wheels, which runs from September to April, has 7 stops during its 7-night, 8-day journey, and passengers on board are taken on city tours. Tickets cost upwards of ₹ 3.60 lakhs.
Deccan Odyssey tickets cost from ₹4.20 lakh onwards and travel on six routes for seven nights and eight days, running from October to April.
and the Golden Chariot, which travels for seven nights and eight days from October to March, with ticket prices starting at ₹16,000 per night.
operation hit
Maharaja Express resumed operations in FY22 with three trips, with an occupancy level of over 82.54 per cent and generated a revenue of ₹3.48 crore, according to data tabled before Parliament. Till November this year, it did seven rounds with an occupancy of 37.93 per cent and earned a revenue of Rs 14.34 crore. There was no information about its operation in 2020-21.
Meanwhile, the operations of Palace on Wheels were affected for two years- FY21 and FY22 due to Covid. It completed 5 rounds with an occupancy of 38.29 per cent and a revenue of Rs 4.85 crore till November this year.
According to documents in the Upper House, Deccan Odyssey is yet to resume operations post-Covid.
The Golden Chariot, on the other hand, made two trips in FY21 with 34 per cent occupancy and registered a revenue of Rs 0.39 crore. It was not operated in the last financial year. And so far this fiscal (till November), it has scored a treble with 27.5 per cent occupancy and revenue of Rs 0.70 crore.
“The number is expected to go up as more foreign tourists arrive,” said a railway official.
Bharat Gaurav Trains
Vaishnav, in his reply, said that all luxury tourist trains have been brought under the ambit of Bharat Gaurav trains and under this policy, the service providers have full freedom to decide the theme, itinerary and tariff as per the market demand.
Indian Railways provides support for the operation of these trains.
The minister said that there is no plan to discontinue any of these trains due to low occupancy.