IRCTC, Cox & Kings sign deal for luxury train

IRCTC has entered into a joint venture agreement with travel firm Cox and Kings (India) to set up a company to operate a luxury tourist train service with a pan-Indian reach.

In a first of its kind public-private initiative, Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has entered into a joint venture agreement with travel firm Cox and Kings (India) to set up a company to operate a luxury tourist train service with a pan-Indian reach.

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India has several luxury tourist train services like the Palace on Wheels, Deccan Odyssey and Golden Chariot, but all these are regional. The new train will traverse multiple states, showcasing India in totality.

The 50:50 joint venture will be known as Royale India Rail Tours Ltd and it would operate and manage the luxury train service in India.

“This train would be a landmark in the growth of luxury tourism in India,” said Nalin Shinghal, managing director, IRCTC. Peter Kerkar, managing director, Cox and Kings, added: “This venture shall redefine luxury trains not just in India but the world.”

The company has designed two seven-night itineraries: Princely India Tour covering Mumbai-Ahmedabad-Udaipur-Jodhpur-Jaisalmer-Jaipur-Delhi, and the Classical India tour, covering Delhi-Agra-Gwalior-Khajuraho-Varanasi.