After completing its maiden tour to Shirdi, the Buddhist circuit special train (Mahaparinirvan Express) chugged into Chennai Central on Saturday morning.
About 200 pilgrims travelled in the airconditioned coaches during the four-day tour. Sai Surya, a government employee, headed the 40-member team and they used the public address system in the train to conduct evening poojas.
Talking to The Hindu , Sai Surya said it was a great experience to travel in the luxury train that had a limited number of seats, but friendly attendants and good food and service. The conversion of toilet into bathroom and the public address system were attractive features of the train.
Described as a luxury train, Mahaparinirvan Express plies on the Buddhist circuit for nearly six months a year, and idles in the yard from April to September.
Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC), south zone, made use of the opportunity and brought the train to the South to give Chennaiites a feel of the service.
Some of the toilets were modified recently to include a shower. IRCTC plans to run at least eight such services.
The services of Mahaparinirvan will be available to IRCTC south zone till August. The train has limited onboard facilities as it catered to pilgrims, mostly foreigners.
The train has eight airconditioned coaches, pantry car and two power cars to ensure continuous power supply. It can accommodate 274 passengers.
The next tour will be a ‘Kasi-Nepal Special’, a 12-day tour that begins at Chennai Central next week. The third trip (North India pilgrimage) will be on the Chennai Central–Allahabad–Varanasi–Gaya–Puri–Konark via Vijayawada route.
“The package has been designed keeping in mind the government and public sector unit employees, who want to avail LTC facility,” said IRCTC assistant general manager, L. Ravikumar.
For more details, contact 9003140681 or 9840902916, or email: ravindran.m@irctc.com.
