Why better trains just for foreign tourists?
According to a story in The Times of India this week, the Indian Railways wants to put in “exclusive coaches” with “better facilities” to attract foreign tourists and earn more money… Apparently, the next step after the over-priced and under-utilized luxury trains like Palace On Wheels, Deccan Odyssey, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Fairy Queen and The Golden Chariot, the railways now wants to spruce up normal trains by adding “designer coaches” with better facilities, to offer forex paying foreigners more connections within India. While this idea from the newly constituted public amenities committee of the ministry, is commendable, the thought does arise as to why experts do not think amenities such as more leg space, ergonomically designed seats and toilets, wider sleeping berths, smart cabin crews and aesthetic improvements such as bigger windows, laptop ports, should also be available to the long suffering Indian railway traveller as well as the finicky foreigner.
