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When planning a journey by train, we often look for comfort and spend a lot of money on buying tickets for the premium category. However, did you know that there is a train run by Indian Railways which offers luxury and excellent services like Vande Bharat Express, Rajdhani, and Shatabdi, but at a very low price?
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This train has fully air-conditioned coaches and is called the cheapest in India. It offers a comfortable travel experience on a budget. In Indian Railways, ticket fares vary depending on the coach and facilities. AC coaches, for instance, come with a higher fare compared to sleeper and general coaches due to the added comfort and amenities. But, the train we are talking about today is called the 'Rajdhani Express' of the poor.
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Yes, you guessed it correctly! We are talking about the Garib Rath Express. Despite having AC coaches, its fare remains the lowest among the trains with premium facilities. But don't be confused by the low prince, when it comes to speed, this train competes with the Vande Bharat and Rajdhani Express.
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Often called the 'Poor Man's Rajdhani Express', the Garib Rath was introduced to offer the comfort of AC travel at an affordable price. With a fare of just 68 paise per kilometer, passengers can travel in an AC coach to various destinations at an incredibly low cost.
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Like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, and Vande Bharat trains, this train is fully air-conditioned but significantly cheaper in terms of fare. The first service was launched in 2006 by the then Rail Minister of India Lalu Prasad Yadav between Saharsa–Amritsar Garib Rath Express.
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The Garib Rath Express primarily operates on long-distance routes, linking major cities and key railway stations across India. It currently runs on 26 different routes, connecting cities like Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Chennai, and Patna-Kolkata. Due to its affordability and popularity, the train is often crowded year-round, making it challenging to secure a confirmed ticket.
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The Vande Bharat Express can go as fast as 160 km/h, but it usually travels between 66 to 96 km/h. On the other hand, the Garib Rath Express travels at an average speed of 70 to 75 km/h. While Vande Bharat provides luxury with speed, the Garib Rath remains competitive in terms of speed, especially considering its affordability.
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The Garib Rath Express running between Chennai and Hazrat Nizamuddin in Delhi covers the longest distance of 2,075 km. It completes the journey in 28 hours and 30 minutes, with a ticket fare of Rs 1500.
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The Garib Rath Express is popular mainly because of its affordable fare. It is a great option for travelers who want to cover long distances but can't afford the higher prices of other trains.