Famous Trains — Set 3

Correct Answer: A. Surat

• **Flying Ranee** = one of India's oldest heritage trains, first introduced in 1906 by the Bombay Baroda and Central India (BB&CI) Railway between Mumbai and Surat. It remains a popular train for daily commuters and business travelers on the Western Railway zone. • **Key fact** — Flying Ranee was among the first Indian trains to feature double-decker coaches, maximizing passenger capacity on the busy Mumbai-Surat corridor; the name 'Ranee' (Queen) reflects the train's heritage prestige on this route. • Covering the 263 km Mumbai-Surat journey, it passes through Vapi, Surat, and Vadodara, serving as a vital economic and social connector for Gujarat's textile and diamond trading communities. • 💡 **Option B (Pune)** is wrong because the Mumbai-Pune route is served by Deccan Queen and Indrayani Express, not Flying Ranee; **Option C (Ahmedabad)** is wrong because Flying Ranee terminates at Surat, not Ahmedabad; **Option D (Nashik)** is wrong because Nashik is connected to Mumbai via different railway lines and Flying Ranee has never served that route.

Correct Answer: A. Mahamana Express

• **Mahamana Express** = the first train in India fully branded and themed around the legacy of Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya, the founder of Banaras Hindu University (BHU). The inaugural run was on June 14, 2016, between New Delhi and Varanasi (Banaras). • **Key fact** — the Mahamana Express features upgraded interiors with modern LED lighting, improved berth comfort, enhanced cleanliness standards, and a distinctive livery; it was part of Indian Railways' Mission Raftaar initiative to modernize the passenger experience in non-premium trains. • The train operates on a route deeply connected to Mahamana Malaviya's life and work, as Varanasi was the city where he founded BHU in 1916, making the branding historically apt. • 💡 **Option B (Humsafar Express)** is wrong because it is a fully AC-3 train with no specific personality branding connected to Malamaviya; **Option C (Antyodaya Express)** is wrong because it is an unreserved superfast train for the poor with no theme branding; **Option D (Tejas Express)** is wrong because Tejas is branded around modernity and private operation by IRCTC, not around any historical personality.

Correct Answer: D. Bandhan Express

• **Bandhan Express** = a cross-border friendship train between India and Bangladesh, launched on November 9, 2017, connecting Kolkata (Chitpur) with Khulna (Bangladesh). The name 'Bandhan' means 'bond' or 'connection' in Bengali, reflecting the spirit of friendship. • **Key fact** — Bandhan Express follows a route through the Khulna division of Bangladesh and crosses the Petrapole-Benapole international border; it revived a historic rail link between these two cities that existed before the Partition of 1947. • The Bandhan Express complemented the already-running Maitree Express (Kolkata-Dhaka), giving travelers a second cross-border option that serves southwestern Bangladesh. • 💡 **Option A (Maitree Express)** is wrong because it connects Kolkata with Dhaka, not Agartala or Khulna via the Bandhan route; **Option B (North East Express)** is wrong because it is a domestic Indian train running between Patna and Dibrugarh; **Option C (Agartala-Akhaura Rail Link)** is wrong because that is a rail infrastructure project, not an operational passenger train service between Kolkata and Agartala.

Correct Answer: D. Solapur

• **Siddheshwar Express** = a popular overnight express train connecting Mumbai (CSMT) with Solapur in Maharashtra. It is named after the Siddheshwar Temple, one of the most revered Shiva shrines in Solapur and a major pilgrimage destination in Maharashtra. • **Key fact** — the train is heavily patronized by the textile and garment business community of Solapur, which is known for its Terry towel and bedsheet manufacturing industry; it covers the approximately 453 km journey overnight. • Solapur is also a significant pilgrim center due to its proximity to Pandharpur (the Vitthal temple), and the Siddheshwar Express serves pilgrims traveling to both sites. • 💡 **Option A (Pandharpur)** is wrong because while it is a major religious town in Maharashtra, the Siddheshwar Express terminates at Solapur, not Pandharpur; **Option B (Kolhapur)** is wrong because Kolhapur is served by different express trains like the Mahalaxmi Express; **Option C (Shirdi)** is wrong because Shirdi is served by dedicated trains like the Sai Nagar Express, not the Siddheshwar Express.

Correct Answer: A. Bhopal Express

• **Bhopal Express (Shaan-e-Bhopal)** = the first train in India to receive ISO 9001 certification for quality of service, awarded for its consistently high standards of cleanliness, punctuality, and passenger safety. It runs between Habibganj (Bhopal) and Hazrat Nizamuddin (New Delhi). • **Key fact** — ISO 9001 certification is an international quality management system standard; Bhopal Express (Shaan-e-Bhopal) received this distinction for its meticulous maintenance regime, trained staff, and superior on-board service, making it a benchmark for Indian Railways. • The achievement set off a quality consciousness movement in Indian Railways, encouraging other zonal railways to pursue similar certifications and adopt systematic quality management practices. • 💡 **Option B (Mumbai Rajdhani)** is wrong because while it is a premium train, it did not receive the first ISO 9001 certification; **Option C (New Delhi Shatabdi)** is wrong because it is a fast intercity train but not the ISO-certified pioneer; **Option D (Lucknow Mail)** is wrong because it is an older mail train with no specific ISO quality certification history.

Correct Answer: A. Kolkata and Chennai

• **Coromandel Express** = one of the most important superfast trains on the South Eastern Railway, connecting Kolkata (Howrah) with Chennai (Chennai Central), covering approximately 1,662 km along the Coromandel Coast of eastern India. • **Key fact** — introduced in 1969, Coromandel Express is one of India's oldest and fastest intercity trains on this corridor; it was involved in the devastating Odisha train collision at Balasore in June 2023, one of the deadliest rail accidents in Indian history. • The train follows the scenic Coromandel Coast passing through Bhubaneswar, Visakhapatnam, and Vijayawada, serving as a vital economic link between two major eastern cities. • 💡 **Option B (Visakhapatnam and Puri)** is wrong because that is a different regional route not served by Coromandel Express; **Option C (Chennai and Kanyakumari)** is wrong because that is a separate southern route with different trains; **Option D (Kolkata and Bhubaneswar)** is wrong because Coromandel Express continues well beyond Bhubaneswar all the way to Chennai.

Correct Answer: A. Gwalior-Varanasi Bundelkhand Express

• **Gwalior-Varanasi Bundelkhand Express** = the first train in India to have bio-toilets successfully installed as an experimental measure to reduce open-line defecation on railway tracks. Bio-toilets use anaerobic bacteria to decompose human waste into water and gases. • **Key fact** — the bio-toilet technology was developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) in collaboration with Indian Railways; after successful testing on Bundelkhand Express, the technology was scaled up and is now being installed across all Indian Railways coaches. • The initiative is part of the Swachh Rail, Swachh Bharat campaign, with a target of making all Indian Railways coaches bio-toilet equipped by eliminating conventional discharge-to-track toilet systems. • 💡 **Option B (Mumbai-Jammu Swaraj Express)** is wrong because it was not the first to pilot bio-toilets; **Option C (Chennai-Delhi Grand Trunk Express)** is wrong as the bio-toilet experiment was specifically done on the Bundelkhand Express; **Option D (Latur-Mumbai Express)** is wrong because it is a regional Deccan train with no record of pioneering this technology.

Correct Answer: B. Delhi and Chennai

• **Grand Trunk Express (GT Express)** = one of India's oldest long-distance trains, introduced in 1929 connecting Delhi (Hazrat Nizamuddin) with Chennai (Chennai Central), covering a distance of approximately 2,185 km. It is named after the historic Grand Trunk Road that also connects northern and southern India. • **Key fact** — when first introduced in 1929, GT Express was the longest-running train in India by distance; it has an 11-coach composition and takes approximately 33 hours to complete the Delhi-Chennai journey via Nagpur and Vijayawada. • Grand Trunk Express remains one of the most popular trains for north-south travel as it passes through major cities like Agra, Gwalior, Bhopal, Nagpur, and Vijayawada, making it a comprehensive connector of the Indian heartland. • 💡 **Option A (Delhi and Mumbai)** is wrong because the Delhi-Mumbai route is served by Rajdhani, August Kranti, and other expresses, not Grand Trunk Express; **Option C (Kolkata and Mumbai)** is wrong because that route is served by Gitanjali Express and others; **Option D (Kanyakumari and Jammu)** is wrong because that extreme north-south route is served by the Himsagar Express.

Correct Answer: D. Fairy Queen

• **Fairy Queen** = the world's oldest working steam locomotive, built in 1855 in England by Kitson, Thompson and Hewitson, and used on Indian railways during the British era. It was restored to active heritage service to run special tourist trips between Delhi (Shakurbasti) and Alwar in Rajasthan. • **Key fact** — the Fairy Queen was certified by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest working steam locomotive engine in the world; it was declared a National Treasure by the Government of India and has won international recognition as a rare working piece of railway history. • Special heritage runs were organized to commemorate milestones in Indian railway history, including the 150th anniversary of the first Indian train journey from Bombay to Thane (April 16, 1853). • 💡 **Option A (Heritage Steam Express)** is wrong because no such named train exists in Indian Railways' records; **Option B (Jan Shatabdi)** is wrong because it is a modern day train introduced in 2002 with no heritage steam connection; **Option C (Bhole the Mascot Express)** is wrong because no such train by that name has been officially launched on the Indian Railways network.

Correct Answer: A. Udaipur

• **Mewar Express** = a popular overnight train connecting Delhi (Hazrat Nizamuddin) with Udaipur City, capital of the Mewar region in Rajasthan. It is a vital tourist and commuter link for travelers heading to Udaipur, known as the 'City of Lakes'. • **Key fact** — the train is named after the Mewar kingdom, one of the most historically significant Rajput principalities known for its 1,500-year-old lineage and the valor of rulers like Rana Pratap; it covers approximately 739 km in around 12 hours. • Udaipur is one of Rajasthan's top tourist destinations, home to the City Palace, Lake Pichola, and Jagmandir Island; the Mewar Express is essential for the tourism industry of southern Rajasthan. • 💡 **Option B (Chittorgarh)** is wrong because while Chittorgarh is in the Mewar region, the Mewar Express terminates at Udaipur, not Chittorgarh; **Option C (Jaipur)** is wrong because Jaipur is the capital of the Dhundhar/Kachhwaha kingdom, not Mewar, and is served by Shatabdi and Ajmer Shatabdi; **Option D (Jodhpur)** is wrong because Jodhpur is in the Marwar region and is served by different trains like the Mandore Express.