Rajasthan on October 5 introduced the exclusive Valley Queen Heritage Train service from Marwar Junction to Khamlighat. Resembling a 150-year-old steam engine, the train promises passengers a nostalgic journey with its 60-seat Vistadome AC coach. Tickets are priced at INR 2,000 per person, and the train will run four days a week.
The Valley Queen Heritage Train, the sixth of its kind in India, follows a picturesque route. Departing from Marwar Junction at 8.30 AM, it reaches Khamlighat at 11 AM via Phulad and Goram Ghat railway stations, making brief stops of 10 to 15 minutes at each station. After a 3.5-hour halt at Kamli Ghat, it departs at 3 PM, returning to Marwar Junction at 5.40 PM on the same day.
According to Shashi Kiran, Chief Public Relations Officer of NWR, the existing track was utilised, but a new heritage train has been created, featuring one chair car coach. The diesel engine has been transformed to resemble a steam engine, providing passengers with a journey through lush green valleys, hills, rare flora, and fauna. The route boasts two nearly century-old tunnels and 172 bridges over water streams. The existing meter gauge train from Marwar to Mavli will continue operating on this route, ensuring convenient connections for passengers.
Officials highlight the historical significance of the Marwar Junction-Mavli Junction railway line, established before Independence with contributions from two different royal families. The Maharana of Mewar (Udaipur) constructed the railway line from Mavli Junction to Phulad, while the Maharaja of Marwar (Jodhpur) built the railway line from Marwar Junction to Phulad. Before independence, separate trains of the royal families used to run on this track, with passengers changing trains at Phulad due to the construction of separate lines. The Valley Queen Heritage Train not only offers a distinctive travel experience but also provides a glimpse into the rich history and heritage of Rajasthan's railways.