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, 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.
Traction All Double Decker Express trains pulled by all locomotive genre (motive power) like diesel and electric are WAP-4, WAP-5, WAP 7, WCAM-3, WDP-4, WDM-3A and WDM-3D
AC Double Decker Services + Currently operational train listTrain no.RouteDistance 12931/12932 Mumbai Central–Ahmedabad Double Decker Express 491 km 22625/22626 Chennai–Bangalore Double Decker Express 359 km 12583/12584 Lucknow Junction–Anand Vihar Terminal Double Decker Express 479 km 12985/12986 Jaipur–Delhi Sarai Rohilla AC Double Decker Express 304 km 22707/22708 Visakhapatnam–Tirupati Double Decker Express 761 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. 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.
Services The first service was launched on 10 June 2018 between Coimbatore Junction and Bangalore 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. Train no.Train nameDistanceFrequencyZone22665/22666KSR Bengaluru–Coimbatore Uday Express419 km Daily DailySouthern Railway zone22701/22702Visakhapatnam–Guntur Uday Express384 km5 days a week except Thu, SunSouth Coast Railway zone
Defunct AC Double Decker Services +Formerly operational train listTrain no.RouteDistanceNotes 11085/11086&11099/11100 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus–Madgaon AC Double Decker Express 592 kmDiscontinued 22117/22118 Guntur–Kacheguda AC Double Decker Express 287 kmCancelled 22183/22184 Habibganj–Indore Junction AC Double Decker Express 259 kmDiscontinued due to low occupancy. 12385/12386 Howrah–Dhanbad Double Decker Express 263 kmThis 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. 22119/22110 Kacheguda–Tirupati Double Decker Express 636 kmCancelled
Defunct Non-AC Double Decker Services +Formerly operational train listNameTrain no.RouteDistanceNotes Sinhagad Express 11009/11010 Mumbai CSM Terminus– 192 km First train to have double deck rake in India. About ten coaches were attached but were removed eventually. Deccan Queen Superfast Express 12123/12124 Mumbai CSM Terminus– 192 km Used to haul Double Decker bogies during 1980s but were eventually removed. Deccan Express 11007/11008 Mumbai CSM Terminus– 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– 258 km This train used to haul Non-AC Double Decker bogies in the 1990s. Mumbai–Pune Passenger — Mumbai CSM Terminus– 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 Ranee12921/12922Mumbai Central–Surat263 kmThis train lost its double-decker coaches when it was upgraded to run with a new LHB rake in July 2023.Mumbai Central–Valsad Fast Passenger59023/59024Mumbai Central–Valsad195 kmThis train's double-decker coaches were retired and replaced with conventional ICF coaches on 5 January 2025.
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