Trains Luxury Tourist Trains
Indian Railways – Luxury Tourist Trains
(Complete RRB Exam Capsule)
1. Why “Luxury Tourist Trains” are Exam-Important
- Static GK: Names, years, routes, awards, capacity, speed, tariff range.
- Current Affairs: Every year 1–2 questions in RRB NTPC, Group-D, JE, ALP on “Palace on Wheels” type trains, UNESCO heritage, Swadesh Darshan, Incredible India 2.0.
- Budget 2023-24: 50 new “Bharat Gaurav” tourist trains & 5 new luxury circuits announced – high probability for 2024-25 shifts.
2. Quick-Fire Facts (RRB Hit-List)
| S.N. | Train | Flag-off Year | Operator | Zone | Base Shed | Coaches | Max Speed (km/h) | Avg Running (km/h) | Annual Pax (approx.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Palace on Wheels | 1982 (Relaunched 2009) | RTDC + IRCTC | NWR | Delhi Safdarjung | 14 (1 spa, 2 rest., 1 bar) | 110 | 45-50 | 3,000 |
| 2 | Royal Rajasthan on Wheels | 2009 | RTDC + IRCTC | NWR | Delhi Safdarjung | 13 | 110 | 45 | 1,800 |
| 3 | Deccan Odyssey | 2004 (Relaunch 2014) | MTDC + IRCTC | CR | Mumbai CST (Diesel) | 21 | 110 | 50 | 2,000 |
| 4 | Golden Chariot | 2008 | KSTDC + IRCTC | SWR | Bengaluru YPR | 18 | 110 | 45 | 1,200 |
| 5 | Maharajas’ Express | 2010 (World’s Costliest) | IRCTC alone | NR | Delhi Cantonment | 23 (4 configs) | 130 | 60 | 1,500 |
| 6 | Bharat Gaurav (theme) | 2021 | Private + IRCTC | All zones | Various | 10-16 | 110 | 45 | – |
3. Awards & Recognitions (Remember the Year)
| Train | Award | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Palace on Wheels | PATA Gold Award | 1987 |
| Maharajas’ Express | “World’s Leading Luxury Train” (WTA) | 4 times: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 |
| Deccan Odyssey | Asia’s Leading Luxury Train (WTA) | 2016, 2017 |
| Golden Chariot | 1st luxury train to get Green-Cert (IGBC) | 2021 |
4. Route & Duration Matrix (Most Asked)
| Train | Circuit | Nights | States Covered | UNESCO Sites Covered |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Palace on Wheels | Delhi-Jaipur-Sawai Madhopur-Chittorgarh-Udaipur-Jaisalmer-Jodhpur-Bharatpur-Agra-Delhi | 7 | Rajasthan, Haryana, UP | 3 (Keoladeo, Jantar-Mantar, Hill-Forts) |
| Royal Rajasthan | Same as PoW + Khajuraho-Varanasi | 8 | RJ, UP, MP | 4 (add Khajuraho) |
| Deccan Odyssey | 6 circuits – most famous “Maharashtra Splendour” (Mumbai-Ajanta-Ellora-Nashik-Goa-Mumbai) | 7 | MH, GA | 2 (Ajanta & Ellora) |
| Golden Chariot | Pride of South & Southern Treasures (Bengaluru-Mysore-Hampi-Belur-Halebidu-Cochin-Kovalam-Bengaluru) | 7 | KA, TN, KE | 2 (Hampi, Mahabalipuram) |
| Maharajas’ Express | 4 pan-India itineraries: Heritage, Indian Panorama, Treasures, Southern Jewels | 3-7 | Up to 12 states | 6 (Taj, Khajuraho, Hampi, etc.) |
5. Fare / Tariff Range (per person/night) – Approx. INR
| Train | Deluxe Cabin | Junior Suite | Presidential Suite |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palace on Wheels | ₹45,000 | ₹65,000 | – |
| Royal Rajasthan | ₹50,000 | ₹70,000 | – |
| Deccan Odyssey | ₹52,000 | ₹75,000 | – |
| Golden Chariot | ₹40,000 | ₹60,000 | – |
| Maharajas’ Express | ₹65,000 | ₹95,000 | ₹2,50,000 |
6. Salient Technical Features
- Track Gauge: 1676 mm (Broad Gauge) – all luxury trains.
- Traction: PoW & RR → Diesel; DO, GC, ME → End-on-Generation (EOG) + HOG compliant.
- Brake System: All Air-brake; Max permissible 110-130 km/h.
- Crew: 1 Train Manager (ex-IRPS), 1 Chief Ticket Inspector, 1 Paramedic, 55-60 hospitality staff.
- Sponsor Ministry: Tourism under “Swadesh Darshan” & “Dekho Apna Desh”.
- Booking Window: 16 months advance (IRCTC portal only for ME; agents for others).
7. Abbreviations & Full-Forms (RRB Loves Abbreviations)
| Abbreviation | Full-Form |
|---|---|
| IRCTC | Indian Railway Catering & Tourism Corporation |
| RTDC | Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation |
| MTDC | Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation |
| KSTDC | Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation |
| WTA | World Travel Awards |
| PATA | Pacific Asia Travel Association |
| EOG | End-on-Generation |
| HOG | Head-on-Generation |
8. Previous-Year RRB Questions (Memory-Based)
Question:01 [Which was the first luxury tourist train started by Indian Railways?]
A) Deccan Odyssey
B) Royal Rajasthan on Wheels
C) Palace on Wheels
D) Maharajas’ Express
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Indian Railways launched its first luxury tourist train, “Palace on Wheels”, in 1982, offering a royal heritage experience across Rajasthan and Agra.
Question:02 The Maharajas’ Express is operated by which zone?
A) Northern Railway (NR)
B) Western Railway (WR)
C) Southern Railway (SR)
D) Eastern Railway (ER)
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A
Explanation: The luxury tourist train Maharajas’ Express is operated by the Indian Railways’ Northern Railway (NR) zone.
Question:03 How many coaches does the luxury tourist train “Golden Chariot” comprise?
A) 14
B) 16
C) 18
D) 20
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Golden Chariot train has 18 fully air-conditioned coaches, each reflecting the heritage of Karnataka.
Question:04 Which luxury train includes the Ajanta-Ellora caves in its itinerary?
A) Palace on Wheels
B) Maharajas’ Express
C) Deccan Odyssey
D) Golden Chariot
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: The Deccan Odyssey is the luxury tourist train that offers a dedicated circuit covering the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra.
Question:05 [The “World’s Leading Luxury Train” award (WTA) has been won four times by which train?]
A) Palace on Wheels
B) The Deccan Odyssey
C) Maharajas’ Express
D) Golden Chariot
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Maharajas’ Express has been honoured with the “World’s Leading Luxury Train” award at the World Travel Awards (WTA) on four separate occasions, making it the most-awarded luxury train in that category.
Question:06 [In which city is the base maintenance depot of Palace on Wheels located?]
A) Jaipur
B) Delhi Safdarjung
C) Mumbai Central
D) Agra Cantt
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B
Explanation: The Palace on Wheels luxury tourist train is maintained at the Delhi Safdarjung depot when not in service.
Question:07 The maximum permissible speed of Maharajas’ Express is –
A) 110 km/h
B) 120 km/h
C) 130 km/h
D) 140 km/h
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C
Explanation: Maharajas’ Express, India’s luxury tourist train, is permitted to run at a maximum speed of 130 km/h on suitable track sections.
9. Rapid-Fire List (One-Liner)
- Only train with Presidential Suite → Maharajas’ Express
- Only train certified “Green” by IGBC → Golden Chariot
- Only train covering Khajuraho & Varanasi → Royal Rajasthan on Wheels
- Only train owned 100 % by IRCTC → Maharajas’ Express
- Latest luxury tourist train policy launched → “Bharat Gaurav” (Nov-2021)
10. 15 MCQs for Practice (with ☑ answers)
-
In which year was the Palace on Wheels originally launched?
a) 1972 b) 1982 c) 1992 d) 2002 ☑ b -
The Deccan Odyssey is a joint venture of IRCTC and
a) RTDC b) KSTDC c) MTDC d) ITDC ☑ c -
Which luxury train runs on the broad-gauge track of 1676 mm?
a) Nilgiri Mountain b) Palace on Wheels c) Darjeeling Himalayan d) Kangra Valley ☑ b -
How many UNESCO World Heritage Sites are covered in the standard itinerary of Maharajas’ Express?
a) 4 b) 5 c) 6 d) 7 ☑ c -
The Golden Chariot was named after the famous stone chariot at
a) Halebidu b) Belur c) Hampi d) Mahabalipuram ☑ c -
What is the maximum speed permitted for the Royal Rajasthan on Wheels?
a) 100 km/h b) 110 km/h c) 120 km/h d) 130 km/h ☑ b -
Which of the following is NOT a part of the Palace on Wheels itinerary?
a) Udaipur b) Jaisalmer c) Bharatpur d) Khajuraho ☑ d -
The first luxury train to win the PATA Gold Award was
a) Deccan Odyssey b) Palace on Wheels c) Golden Chariot d) Maharajas’ Express ☑ b -
The “Bharat Gaurav” tourist train policy was announced in
a) 2019 b) 2020 c) 2021 d) 2022 ☑ c -
Which luxury train has a coach named “Heera” (Diamond)?
a) Maharajas’ Express b) Golden Chariot c) Deccan Odyssey d) Palace on Wheels ☑ a -
The tariff of the Presidential Suite of Maharajas’ Express is about ₹____ per night.
a) 1 lakh b) 1.5 lakh c) 2 lakh d) 2.5 lakh ☑ d -
Which railway zone technically maintains the Golden Chariot rake?
a) SWR b) CR c) NR d) NWR ☑ a -
The number of coaches in the Deccan Odyssey is
a) 14 b) 18 c) 21 d) 23 ☑ c -
Which of the following pairs is correctly matched?
a) Hampi – Royal Rajasthan b) Goa – Deccan Odyssey c) Varanasi – Golden Chariot d) Jantar Mantar – Maharajas’ Express only ☑ b -
“Swadesh Darshan” scheme is related to
a) Freight corridor b) High-speed rail c) Theme-based tourist trains d) Metro rail ☑ c
11. Last-Minute Revision Card
- 1982 – PoW
- 2004/14 – DO
- 2008 – GC
- 2009 – RR
- 2010 – ME (130 km/h)
- 2021 – Bharat Gaurav
- Awards: PATA-87 (PoW), WTA 4× (ME)
- UNESCO Sites: ME-6, PoW-3, DO-2, GC-2
- Green IGBC: GC
- Presidential Suite: ME
- Operators: IRCTC alone → ME; JVs → others
Keep this page handy for 100 % accuracy on “Luxury Tourist Trains” questions in every RRB NTPC, Group-D, JE, ALP & Ministerial exam.
BETA
