Cool comfort: The Tata-Howrah Steel Superfast Express at Tatanagar station

The railways have finally decided to launch a first class air-conditioned chair car in the popular Steel Express, addressing a longstanding demand from local industry that has been crying hoarse for a comfortable travel option between Jamshedpur and Calcutta.

South Eastern Railway (SER) sources said the facility, a first in any train connecting Tatanagar with Howrah, would be available for passengers on Steel Superfast Express from Calcutta from Thursday.

“Passengers from Jamshedour can avail of the service from Friday,” said Tatanagar station manager Ashok Agarwal, adding that as per a circular issued by SER headquarters at Garden Reach, the first class air-conditioned chair car would be on trial for a month.

“Depending upon the response and occupancy, the facility would be extended further,” he said.

The first class air-conditioned chair car in Steel Express will have 28 seats, six four-seater coupes and two two-seater coupes. The fare has been fixed at Rs 850. The fares in existing AC chair cars are around Rs 350 in both Steel Express and Janshatabdi.

Steel Express will be the only train between Howrah and Tatanagar that will have a First class AC chair car, similar to the Executive Chair Car in most Shatabdis, including the Ranchi-Howrah Shatabdi Express.

The other Jamshedpur trains, including the Howrah-Barbil Janshatabdi Express and Howrah-Titlagarh Ispat Express, only have ordinary AC chair cars.

The Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI), a leading trade organisation of the Kolhan region, welcomed the move.

“We are happy that our demand has been met. The introduction of the first class chair car will benefit passengers, especially corporate officials, foreign delegates and businessmen,” said Suresh Sonthalia, SCCI general secretary of SCCI .

Sonthalia explained that with both Tata Steel and Tata Motors on expansion mode, there have been an increase in the number of foreign delegates. “But, in the absence of air-connectivity they are forced to travel by rail. And the new facility will be very helpful, ” he added.

R. K. Sinha, an industrialist, thanked the railways for introducing the first class AC chair car. “I usually use the chair car which is not that comfortable. Now, I will prefer to travel in first class. I am sure there will many others like me,” he said.

Railway PRO Soumitro Majumdar said that first class AC chair car would be attached to Steel Express for a month to begin with.“The facility is to cater to high end travellers. There has been a demand for introducing executive chair cars, which are only available in Shatabdi Express. The seats of the first class AC chair car will be as comfortable as that of executive chair cars,” he said.