News Brief

Two More Vistadome Train Services Launched In Northeast India

Arun Kumar Das

Dec 20, 2021, 10:56 AM | Updated 10:56 AM IST


A view from the Vistadome coaches.
A view from the Vistadome coaches.
  • The Vistadome train services between Guwahati-Naharlagun and Naharlagun–Tinsukia were flagged off by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Guwahati Railway Station, Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu at Naharlagun station and Minister of State for Railways Darshana Jardosh, also at Guwahati Railway Station.
  • In a move aimed at transforming trade and tourism in the Northeast region through rail connectivity and to promote the cultural heritage of the Northeast, two more Vistadome train services were flagged off on Sunday.

    The Vistadome train services between Guwahati-Naharlagun and Naharlagun–Tinsukia were flagged off by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma at Guwahati Railway Station, Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu at Naharlagun station and Minister of State for Railways Darshana Jardosh, also at Guwahati Railway Station.

    Both the locations were connected via video link.

    Besides, existing Vistadome service between Guwahati and New Haflong will be extended up to Badarpur to fulfill the demand of tourists.

    A view of seating in Vistadome coaches.
    A view of seating in Vistadome coaches.

    Guwahati–Naharlagun route is surrounded by tea gardens and tourists can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Himalayan range in the north and green covers of tea gardens on either side of the track.

    Vistadome services from Naharlagun will provide breath-taking views of the Brahmaputra River, the tea gardens, rain forests along the track and views of the mountains of the Himalayan range.

    A vistadome train at Naharlagun station.
    A vistadome train at Naharlagun station.

    The Vistadome coaches are equipped with state-of-the-art glass windows and all glass roofs for providing views of the open sky, mountains, tunnels, bridges, hills, tea gardens and lush green forests to the tourists.

    It will also have observation lounges for the purpose of site seeing. The rotational seats of the coach are designed to provide added comfort to passengers.

    Coaches are also provided with digital entertainment systems and Wi-Fi facilities.

    Tourists can enjoy the entire trip by enjoying infotainment like movies, music videos etc. A Wi-Fi based passenger information system is also provided.

    For the safety of passengers, CCTV cameras and Fire Alarm System are also installed.

    Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu inside the train during flagging-off.
    Arunachal Chief Minister Pema Khandu inside the train during flagging-off.

    The regular services of Naharlagun–Guwahati–Naharlagun Shatabdi Express with Vistadome coach resume from December 20, 2021.

    The train will run three days a week, leaving Naharlagun every Monday, Tuesday and Friday and from Guwahati every Monday, Thursday and Sunday.

    The train will depart from Naharlagun at 6.45 am to reach Guwahati at 12-30 pm and from Guwahati at 1.45 pm to reach Naharlagun at 7.45 pm. The train will cover a distance of 343 km and have stoppages at Harmuti, Viswanath Charali, Rangapara North, New Misamari, Udalguri, Tangla and Rangiya stations.

    The regular services of Tinsukia–Naharlagun–Tinsukia Vistadome Express will resume from December 21, 2021. The train will run five days a week leaving Tinsukia on every Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and leaving from Naharlagun on every Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.

    The train will depart from Tinsukia at 4 pm to reach Naharlagun at 9.45 pm and from Naharlagun at 5.30 am to reach Tinsukia at 10.40 am. The train will cover a distance of 225 km and have stoppages at New Tinsukia, Dibrugarh, Dhemaji, Bordoloni, Gogamukh, Boginadi, North Lakhimpur and Harmuti stations.

    The existing services of Guwahati–New Haflong–Guwahati have been extended to run up to Badarpur from December 22, 2021. The Guwahati– Badarpur–Guwahati train will leave from Guwahati at 6.45 am to reach Badarpur at 2.20 pm and leave from Badarpur at 3.15 pm to reach Guwahati at 10.45 pm.

    The train will cover a distance of 341 km and have stoppages at Maibong, New Haflong and Jatinga Lumpur stations.

    The route also covers historic cities of Assam. Tourism sectors of this area will reap the benefits of these new services.

    Arun Kumar Das is a senior journalist covering railways. He can be contacted at akdas2005@gmail.com.


    Get Swarajya in your inbox.


    Magazine


    image
    States