IRCTC Alert! Tejas Express Trains To Resume Operations From October 17; Check Route, Booking & Travel Guidelines

The bookings for the trains Lucknow-New Delhi and Ahmedabad-Mumbai will start after almost seven months of suspension due to Covid-19. You can visit the e-ticketing website of IRCTC www.irctc.co.in and IRCTC Rail Connect App shortly to book your tickets.

(Photo by SAM PANTHAKY / AFP)

Tejas Express News: In view of the rising demand due to the upcoming festive season, the Indian Railway Catering And Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC), a PSU of the ministry of railways is set to kickstart the operation of Tejas Express trains from October 17.  Both trains Lucknow-New Delhi and Ahmedabad-Mumbai Tejas Express trains were suspended at the time of lockdown from 19 March, as per the news agency PTI. Now, both trains are expected to resume operations. The bookings for the trains will be opened on the e-ticketing website of IRCTC www.irctc.co.in and IRCTC Rail Connect App shortly. What are the two trains to resume operations? The two Tejas Express services are the first set of trains run by a corporate entity, IRCTC, a subsidiary of the Indian Railways. The third IRCTC-operated train, the Kashi Mahakal Express between Indore and Varanasi will however not begin its services yet. IRCTC started the Lucknow-Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express (Train No. 82501/02) on October 4, 2019, and the Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Ahmedabad (Train No. 82901/02)on January 19 this year. IRCTC has conducted an extensive training programme to educate and train its team of employees of Tejas Trains to handle the operations of the trains and provide services according to the ‘new normal’ amid the pandemic.  A Standard Operation Procedure in lines with the Covid-19 protocol has been issued to ensure safety of the passengers. Know the guidelines before you book your ticket

• Remember that every alternate seat will be kept vacant while adhering to the social distancing norms for the initial period.
• You cannot exchange seats once seated.
• Face covers/masks will be mandatory for passengers and staff.
• All travelers will install “Arogya Setu" app and same shall be shown as and when demanded.
• Detailed instructions will be given to the passengers at the time of booking of tickets.
• All the passengers will go through thermal screening and hand sanitization process before entering the coach.
• All the passengers will be provided a Covid-19 protection kit which will contain a bottle of hand sanitizers, one mask, one face shield and one pair of gloves.
• The coach including pantry areas and lavatories will be thoroughly disinfected at regular intervals.
• Moreover, luggage and baggage of the passenger will be disinfected by a staff deputed for this purpose.
• For safety purpose, cleaning and regular disinfection of frequently touched surface inside the coach will be carried out. The service trays and trolleys will also be disinfected.

The Tejas Express has six stops including Nadiad, Vadodara, Bharuch, Surat, Vapi, and Borivli. The train has an executive class, AC chair cars and dynamic pricing. As of now, four special trains are operating between Ahmedabad and Mumbai.