If rail passengers had been missing the Dhanbad-Howrah double-decker train, which was withdrawn last year, here's a chance for them to relive the good ol' journey.
The railway board has decided to operate the red and gold AC train as a Chhath special between October 23 and November 8 with changed timetable and numbers, raising hopes of its comeback as a regular superfast express.
The Dhanbad-Howrah Special Fare Chhath Puja Special (02386) - the name of the double-decker in its new avatar - will leave the coal town at 7.40am and reach Howrah at noon. The train from Howrah (02385) will set out at 2.35pm and chug into Dhanbad at 6.50pm.
It will halt at three places - Kumbardubi, Barakar and Asansol - between Dhanbad and Howrah.
Seven AC coaches of the train and two generator cars arrived at Dhanbad station on Tuesday and booking for the 628 seats have already begun. The fare has been fixed at Rs 545 for adults and Rs 390 for children.
Senior divisional commercial manager of Dhanbad Abhishek Kumar confirmed that the double-storeyed express would run on a trial basis as a Chhath special train with changed timings. "We are expecting good response because of the suitable arrival and departure schedule. A decision to continue the train permanently can be taken only on the basis of passenger turnout," he added.
According to railways officials, timings of the Chhath special worked well for passengers as those missing the Coalfield Express (12340), which leaves from Dhanbad at 5.55am and reaches Howrah at 10.25am, will get an option to reach Calcutta during the first half of the day. They can return the same evening if they can finish their work early.
It will particularly benefit passengers like Amit Kumar, who hate to wake up early. "I am not a early riser, so I find it difficult to catch the Coalfield Express at 5.55am to reach my company headquarters in Calcutta. The new timing of the double-decker suits me best," said the sales representative of a pharmaceutical company.
President of Federation of Dhanbad Zilla Chamber of Commerce Rajesh Kumar Gupta said they were keeping their fingers crossed for permanent operation of the train.
"We had been demanding resumption of the double-decker since long with changed timings. We welcome the railway board's decision to ply the train again, albeit as a Chhath special. We expect good response from passengers and will now demand running the train on a permanent basis."
Sources said the railways pulled back Dhanbad-Howrah AC Double-Decker Express as they were facing losses of around Rs 11 lakh per day due to low occupancy blamed on the inconvenient timings and higher fares.
In its earlier stint from 2011 to 2015, the train (12385 Up) started from Howrah at 8.35am and arrived in Dhanbad at 12.50pm. On return journey, it (12386 Down) used to depart from Dhanbad at 6.30pm and reach Howrah at 10.40pm.
The railways had first suspended the train between December 26, 2014, and January 24, 2015, citing bad weather and finally withdrew it from January 25, 2015.
