The Garib Rath[1] (lit. Poor Chariot)[2][3] trains are a series of no-frills trains operated by Indian Railways to provide air-conditioned train travel at a cheaper rate compared to regular trains.[4] Garib Rath Express trains primarily operate on long-distance routes, connecting major cities and important railway stations across different states in India. These trains are designed to cover extensive distances, often traversing several hundred kilometers in a single journey.
| Garib Rath Express | |
|---|---|
 Amritsar–Saharsa, the first Garib Rath Express service at New Delhi. | |
| Overview | |
| Status | Operating |
| Locale | All over india |
| First service | 5 October 2006 |
| Current operator(s) | Indian Railways |
| Technical | |
| Rolling stock | LHB 3E Coaches (conversion in progress) |
| Track gauge | 5 ft 6 in (1,676 mm) broad gauge |
| Operating speed | 130 Kmph |
| Track owner(s) | Indian Railways |
History
editThe term "Garib Rath" translates to "Poor Man's Chariot" or "Chariot of the Poor" in English. These trains were primarily aimed at providing affordable transportation for economically weaker sections of society. The name "Garib" means Poor and "rath" means chariot in Sanskrit and the first service was inaugurated on 5 October 2006 by introduced by the then Rail Minister of India Lalu Prasad Yadav between Saharsa–Amritsar Garib Rath Express
Rolling stock
editGarib rath trains have fully air-conditioned coaches that have to be reserved in advance. The ICF rakes, which are being removed from service, have a modified AC 3-Tier coach with side middle berth. The LHB rakes, run with 3 AC Economy coaches without the side middle berth.
Active routes
editDefunct routes
edit- 12255/56 Yesvantpur–Puducherry Garib Rath Express service converted to ordinary service[9]
- 02709 Gudur Secunderabad Garibrath Express special Rake Sharing With Secunderabad Yesvantpur Garibrath Express
- 0655/0656 Chennai CST Garibrath special & Chennai Central Tirunelveli Garibrath Special Rake Sharing With Chennai–Hazrat Nizamuddin Garibrath Express.
- 12831/32 Dhanbad Bhubaneswar Garib Rath was cancelled during covid and haven't restored yet.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Introduction of Garib Rath trains". Press Information Bureau. Retrieved 17 March 2006.
- ^ https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/hindi-english/%E0%A4%97%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%80%E0%A4%AC [bare URL]
- ^ https://www.learnsanskrit.cc/translate?search=chariot&dir=au [bare URL]
- ^ a b "All-AC Garib Rath flagged off by Lalu". The Times of India. 5 October 2006.
- ^ "Pune-Nagpur Garib Rath from today". The Times of India. 19 January 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ Kaiser, Ejaz (23 February 2008). "Union Minister flags-off Garib Rath from Raipur". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "Yesvantpur-Secunderabad 'Garib Rath' flagged off". The Economic Times. PTI. 2 February 2008. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "New Garib Rath Express introduced". The Hindu. 31 January 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2023.
- ^ "16474/Puducherry-Yesvantpur Garib Rath Express - Pondicherry to Yesvantpur SWR/South Western Zone - Railway Enquiry". indiarailinfo.com. Retrieved 18 April 2022.
Further reading
edit- "Two key sectors of the Garib Rath Express is set to be back on track on 04 August". Firstpost. 30 July 2019.
- "Garib Rath: an ordeal on wheels". The Times of India. 25 November 2008.
- "Yesvantpur-Secunderabad 'Garib Rath' flagged off". The Economic Times. PTI. 2 February 2008.
- "Inauguration of the Kolkata-Guwahati Garib Rath Express". The IRFCA Photo Gallery. Indian Railways Fan Club. 2008.
- "7-yr-old dead as Bodo militants target Assam train". NDTV. 8 July 2010.
- "Garib Rath Express: Timings, Routes, Ticket Fare". TheQuint. 29 April 2021.
- Nag, Devanjana (4 September 2018). "Humsafar Express premium AC-3 tier train to replace Garib Rath on Delhi-Chennai route of Indian Railways". Financial Express. The Indian Express.
External links
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