The newly introduced DD premium Ganapati Special Train was not very popular. Journey time 11 hours stopping at thane, Panvel, Chiplun, Ratnagiri and Kankavli It was full a/c chair (seating only) Bombay LTT to KRMI (Karmali) and back, on alternate days from 22nd August till 10th Sept making 10+10 trips up and down. One train was cancelled due to goods train derailment on the route. It's actual load was about 10-12% of it capacity which is around 960. One time spotted only just 5 Pax alighting at Karmali the last station and the second time only 3.
Main reasons for poor response, I think, not enough publicity and fare comparatively higher, more than 3AC fare of a regular mail/express train. These types of premium trains have dynamic fare structure like that of Air Travel. Meaning, fare goes up as per demand. Lowest fare was around 1,100 but it can go upto Rs.2,000. I tried once and it was showing up 1,550. It will only show up just before you enter your payment details The fare includes taxes (around 50) and Catering charges which is around Rs.250. (Volvo a/c buses fare ranges from 700 to 1200) Food was good, according to a source (Inbound Pax). Plus free tea/coffee, welcome drinks etc Premium Trains usually get all these/ Menu like that of Duronto and Rajdhani. The train had one Pantry van and 1 or 2 Generator / Guard van (normal or STD size compartments) - see pic Other reasons could be: - Ticket only through internet and not at booking counter. - No reserve ticket like ladies quota, tatkal etc not even wait-listed tickets. No concession either. No half ticket, not even to children - Once ticket bought no refund except when the train is cancelled. - No booking through agents - There were others Ganapati special trains too on the same route or sector Looks like the DD train never came on time, always delayed by several hours (like many trains) except on it last trip it came around right time i.e. just after 4.30pm. Each compartment has 120 seats. One has to used steps (4 steps only) either to go down to lower deck or up on the upper deck Few seats also available at the entrance level. see seating plan chart pic Video - Double Decker Train https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2n4V3xIM9c pics - Double Decker https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15208349091/in/photostream https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15211412295/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15024833988/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15024729680/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15024852577/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15024855747/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15024644599/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15024860758/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15188425436/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15188427056/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15211453355/in/photostream/ approaching, tracks https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15188417806/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15211058812/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15024657659/in/photostream/ Upper deck https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15211017722/in/photostream/ Lower deck https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15024838008/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15024835547/in/photostream/ Seating plan, 120 per compartment https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15211023402/in/photostream/ Pantry, generator, guard, luggage van https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15024841268/in/photostream/ see the size/height difference of normal and double decker compartment https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15211033372/in/photostream/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/joegoauk73/15211046302/in/photostream/ video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y2n4V3xIM9c blog - more pics, more trains etc at Karmali station http://joegoauk.blogspot.in/2014/08/karmali-railway-station-goa.html joego...@yahoo.co.uk for Goa & NRI related info... http://in.groups.yahoo.com/group/GOAN-NRI/ For Goan Video Clips http://youtube.com/joeukgoa In Goa, Dial 1 0 8 For Hospital, Police, Fire etc