Garib Rath Express at Hatia railway station in Ranchi. Picture by Hardeep Singh

Ranchi, Jan. 27: It’s time to start the engines at last. A low-fare, fully air-conditioned train to Delhi is finally on track.

The much-awaited Garib Rath Express would be flagged off from the Ranchi railway station tomorrow. The Ranchi-Choupan Express would be flagged off on the same day as well.

The Garib Rath Express with 18 AC 3-tier coaches would link the state capital with New Delhi at a very low fare as compared to the superfast Rajdhani Express. While an AC 3-tier ticket aboard the Rajdhani costs around Rs 1,450, on the Garib Rath it is Rs 505 — about one-third the fare. Blankets and food, however, would remain exclusive to the Rajdhani. However, railway officials said, a passenger could get blankets on making a payment of Rs 25.

The Union minister for food processing Subodh Kant Sahay would flag off the two new trains. The function would also be attended by Rajya Sabha members Mabel Rebello, Jai Prakash Narayan Singh and Parimal Nathwani.

“The first run of Garib Rath Express would be special. But the service would be regularised from February 2,” said Vivek Srivastava, senior divisional commercial manager of the Ranchi railway division. The train would run twice a week — Mondays and Fridays from Ranchi and Wednesdays and Saturdays from New Delhi. It would leave the Ranchi railway station at 5.30pm and reach Delhi at 11am on the following day. From Delhi, its departure time has been scheduled at 4.10pm and it would reach Ranchi at 10am.

The Ranchi-Choupan Express would also run thrice a week — Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays. It would pass through Muri, Tori, Daltonganj, Nagar Utari, Renkut and reach Choupan. It would begin from Ranchi at 7.50am and reach Choupan at 5.15pm on the same day. The train would run like an Intercity Express.

Railway minister Lalu Prasad had announced the new trains in the 2005-06 budget and now it would finally be flagged off from the state capital. Officials said about 90 passengers have already made reservations on the Garib Rath Express.