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Double Decker Express

{{Short description|Series of Indian two-level trains}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2023}}

{{Infobox rail service

| color = FF5C5C

| name = Double Decker Express

| image = Double Decker 12986 Delhi-Jaipur.jpg

| image_size = 305px

| caption = Jaipur–Delhi Sarai Rohilla AC Double Decker Express at Delhi Sarai Rohilla

| type = Superfast

| status = Operational on 7 routes

| locale = Uttar Pradesh, New Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan

| predecessor = Flying Ranee

| first = {{start date and age|df=yes|1937|04|17}}

| successor = Uday Express

| operator = Indian Railways

| website = https://indianrail.gov.in

| line_used = 7

| class = Non-AC and AC Chair Car coaches

| seating = Yes

| sleeping = No

| catering = On-board Catering and E-Catering

| observation = Large windows in all carriages, Services operated by both state and corporate operators.

| entertainment = Electric outlets

| baggage = Overhead racks

| otherfacilities = Bio-vacuum toilets
Fire & Smoke detection and many more

| stock = LHB Double Decker

ICF Double Decker

| gauge = {{track gauge|1676mm}}
broad gauge

| speed = {{convert|130|km/h|abbr=on}}

| system = 7

| electrification = 25 kV AC at 50 Hz

}}

Double Decker Express are a series of trains started by Indian Railways for shorter routes in order to serve more people than a traditional chair car carriage.

The Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express was the first of its type to be introduced.

Rake

Double Decker Express are composed of bi-level seating arrangements for passengers with seating capacity of 120 seats,{{Cite web |title=News of the non AC Double Decker (Oldest Double Decker) : Indian express.com |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/double-decker-ranee-express-extra-coaches-linke-hofmann-busch-western-railway-8842450/ |access-date=16 July 2023 |website=indianexpress.com |language=en}} divided into lower deck, upper deck and mezzanine seating area. The old Double Decker were non AC ICF coaches. In 2011, new fully-AC Stainless Steel LHB Double Decker were introduced in India. Stainless Steel LHB Coaches built at Kapurthala Coach Factory are utilized for AC Double Decker trains.

AC Double Decker Services

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+

Currently operational train list

style="background:#1e90ff;"

!scope="col" |Train no.

!scope="col" |Route

!scope="col" |Distance

12931/12932Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Double Decker Express 491 km
| 22625/22626Chennai–Bangalore Double Decker Express359 km
| 12583/12584Lucknow Junction–Anand Vihar Terminal Double Decker Express479 km
| 12985/12986Jaipur–Delhi Sarai Rohilla AC Double Decker Express304 km
22707/22708Visakhapatnam–Tirupati Double Decker Express761 km

= UDAY Express =

In 2018, a new generation of Double Decker Express trains were introduced in Indian Railways named as UDAY Express - Utkrisht Double Decker Air Conditioned Yatri Express trains, designed by RDSO. The coaches of these trains have an anti-graffiti vinyl wrapped exterior and have been given a bright color scheme of yellow, orange and pink - somewhat similar to that of the Tejas Express. The UDAY express was envisioned as a premium train service for business travelers. According to Indian Railways, Uday Express will cater to the "busiest routes" and increase carrying capacity by 40%. These trains have airline styled seating with a capacity of 120 passengers per coach (50 for upper deck, 48 for lower deck and 22 on the ends) as compared to Shatabdis which can seat up to 78.{{Cite web |date=2016-02-25 |title=Humsafar to Uday: With 4 new trains, Prabhu offers solutions to all |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/humsafar-to-uday-with-4-new-trains-prabhu-offers-solutions-to-all/story-uv08doC75u4L5LnDBuddHO.html |access-date=2019-03-04 |website=www.hindustantimes.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2017-07-03 |title=New train: Indian Railways UDAY Express from Coimbatore to Bengaluru soon; boasts of automatic food vending machines and LCD screens |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/uday-express-train-route-utkrisht-double-decker-air-conditioned-yatri-features-indian-railways/746933/ |access-date=2019-03-04 |website=The Financial Express}}{{Cite web |date=2018-02-07 |title=UDAY Express: Indian Railways’ new train for business travellers! Sneak-peek into interior; 15 stunning images |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/photos/business-gallery/1055768/uday-express-new-train-2018-indian-railways-utkrisht-double-decker-air-conditioned-yatri-images-features/ |access-date=2019-03-04 |website=The Financial Express |language=en-US}} These coaches are also equipped with WiFi infotainment system, have information screens just like Humsafar Express and have small dining area in coaches. Uday Express can run at a maximum speed of 110 km/h and an average speed of 62 km/h.{{fact|date=February 2024}}

== Services ==

The first service was launched on 10 June 2018 between Coimbatore Junction and Bangalore{{Cite web |title=Uday Express: Coimbatore-Bengaluru double-decker train to run from June 10 - Decked up |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/industry/transportation/railways/uday-express-coimbatore-bengaluru-double-decker-train-to-run-from-june-10/decked-up/slideshow/64466541.cms |access-date=2019-03-04 |website=The Economic Times}} having halts at Krishnarajapuram, Kuppam, Salem Jn, Erode Jn, Tiruppur Jn and Coimbatore Jn. The second service was launched on 26 September 2019 between Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada with 7 stops en route, and was later extended till Guntur.

class="wikitable sortable"

! style="background-color:gold;" |Train no.

! style="background-color:gold;" |Train name

! style="background-color:gold;" |Distance

! style="background-color:gold;" |Frequency

! style="background-color:gold;" |Zone

22665/22666

|KSR Bengaluru–Coimbatore Uday Express

|419 km

Daily

|Daily

|Southern Railway zone

22701/22702

|Visakhapatnam–Guntur Uday Express

|384 km

|5 days a week except Thu, Sun

|South Coast Railway zone

Defunct AC Double Decker Services

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Formerly operational train list

style="background:#1e90ff;"

!scope="col" |Train no.

!scope="col" |Route

!scope="col" |Distance

!Notes

11085/11086
&
11099/11100		Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Madgaon AC Double Decker Express 592 km

|Discontinued

22117/22118Guntur–Kacheguda AC Double Decker Express287 km

|Cancelled

22183/22184Habibganj–Indore Junction AC Double Decker Express259 km

|Discontinued due to low occupancy.

12385/12386Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express263 km

|This train was the first AC Double Decker train in India. The train was stopped and discontinued after 8 November 2016 due to many challenges, low occupancy and poor performance.

22119/22110Kacheguda–Tirupati Double Decker Express636 km

|Cancelled

Defunct Non-AC Double Decker Services

class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"

|+Formerly operational train list

style="background:#1e90ff;"

!style="width:100px;"|Name

!style="width:50px;"|Train no.

!style="width:180px;"|Route

!style="width:40px;"|Distance

!style="width:150px;"|Notes

Sinhagad Express

| 11009/11010

| Mumbai CSM Terminus–{{stnlnk|Pune}}

| 192 km

| First train to have double deck rake in India.{{cite web |url=http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/finance_budget/Previous%20Budget%20Speeches/1979-80.pdf|date=20 February 1979|title= Railway Budget speech 1979-80. First double decker service (page no.373)|website=www.indianrailways.gov.in|publisher=Government of India, Ministry of Railways}} About ten coaches were attached but were removed eventually.

Deccan Queen Superfast Express

| 12123/12124

| Mumbai CSM Terminus–{{stnlnk|Pune}}

| 192 km

| Used to haul Double Decker bogies during 1980s but were eventually removed.{{Cite web |url=http://www.irfca.org/~shankie/famoustrains/famtraindqn.htm |title=Deccan Queen |access-date=1 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128135523/http://irfca.org/~shankie/famoustrains/famtraindqn.htm |archive-date=28 November 2006 |url-status=dead }}

Deccan Express

| 11007/11008

| Mumbai CSM Terminus–{{stnlnk|Pune}}

| 192 km

| One or two Double Decker coaches were added. This did not last for long and the coaches were removed.

Sahyadri Express

| 11023/11024

| Mumbai CSM Terminus – Kolhapur

| 518 km

| Hauled Double Decker coaches between Mumbai and Pune and vice versa. But today has Single Decker coaches only.

Panchvati Express

| 12109/12110

| Mumbai CSM Terminus–{{stnlnk|Manmad}}

| 258 km

| This train used to haul Non-AC Double Decker bogies in the 1990s.

Mumbai–Pune Passenger

| —

| Mumbai CSM Terminus–{{stnlnk|Pune}}

| 192 km

| This train used to haul Double Decker bogies. This train has been shut down due to introduction of Mumbai CST–Sainagar Shirdi Fast Passenger / Mumbai CST–Pandharpur Fast Passenger / Mumbai CSMT–Vijapura Fast Passenger.

Flying Ranee

|12921/12922

|Mumbai Central–Surat

|263 km

|This train lost its double-decker coaches when it was upgraded to run with a new LHB rake in July 2023.{{Cite news |date=2023-07-17 |title=No more double decker for Flying Ranee, new rake in |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/no-more-double-decker-for-flying-ranee-new-rake-in/articleshow/101808394.cms |access-date=2024-03-16 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}

Mumbai Central–Valsad Fast Passenger

|59023/59024

|Mumbai Central–Valsad

|195 km

|This train's double-decker coaches were retired and replaced with conventional ICF coaches in 5 January 2025.{{Cite web |title=Mumbai's Iconic Non-AC Double-Decker Passenger Train Coaches To Be Phased Out & Replaced With Conventional Coaches |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbais-iconic-non-ac-double-decker-passenger-train-coaches-to-be-phased-out-replaced-with-conventional-coaches |access-date=2025-01-05 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}

See also

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References

{{reflist}}

{{Uday Express}}

{{Double Decker Express}}

{{Indian Railways}}

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Double-decker trains of India