Hop on! Fully unreserved Ernakulam-Howrah Antyodaya Express chugs off
The Ernakulam-Howrah Antyodaya Express, the new service introduced for the benefit of migrants from other states, was flagged off Monday by union minister Suresh Prabhu from Ernakulam Junction railway station through video conferencing from New Delhi.
Train number 22877/22878 is among the four new long-distance services announced in the Railway Budget for 2016-17. The train will be fully unreserved.
With the new train flagged off, one can reach Kolkata for Rs 520.
Generally, one needs to reserve tickets for long routes at least 4 months prior to the journey. But Antyodaya will be a fully unreserved train for long and dense routes, said a railway press release.
Provided with pleasing interior color schemes, slip-free flooring at doorway, anti-graffiti coating for exterior painting, the coaches of Antyodaya train will also have bio-toilets for zero discharge of effluents. Toilet occupation indication lights provided at each end near the doorway with better visibility from compartments is a first in general class.
Besides, there will be cushioned seats with aluminium composite panels for enhanced aesthetic interior looks. Along with cushioned luggage racks which can serve as seats, the train will also have LED lights and enhanced capacity dustbins. Other key features include, additional hand holds in doorway area, J-Hook near longitudinal luggage racks, mobile charging point, fire extinguisher with anti-theft lock and more.
