Vande Bharat Express was also running on this route but I chose this coach in Pragati Express as I wanted to try something more unique.
BHPian married recently shared this with other enthusiasts.
Introduction
Some rides happen by chance and this is an account of my chance ride from Mumbai to Pune the Vistadome way!
Background
I had to make two official back-to-back trips – one to GJ and another to MH and decided that instead of doing flights back and forth to my current base in the south, I’d rather spend the weekend in Surat and continue my next leg to Pune from there. The plan was cast – travel August Kranti Tejas Rajdhani Exp to Mumbai, transit from Mumbai Central to Mumbai CST, and take another train from there to Pune. When I was examining evening options from CST to Pune, Vande Bharat Exp was there, but when I was looking to try something more unique, pop came the options of Vistadome on Pragati Express and the Deccan Queen. I chose Pragati Exp for multiple reasons:
- Earlier departure than the Deccan Queen
- Opportunity to try the Vistadome coach
- Opportunity to explore a new route (Panvel to Karjat)
Ride#1 – Surat to Mumbai Central by August Kranti Tejas Rajdhani Express
I’ve travelled by this train umpteen times from when it was introduced as Air-Conditioned Express (in the early 90s) but got to experience First AC on the Tejas coaches for the first time.
What has changed
- Nice looking comforter in a neat-looking bag
- Neat carpet
- Excellent washrooms
- Complete coach cleaned before arrival at the destination
- Carpet covered with a vinyl cover to prevent it from getting soiled
What hasn’t changed
- The good old foldable table used by caterers to serve beverages and meals
- The design of the berths is no different from First AC on other trains
- Coach was freezing cold – a common problem with all Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches
View of the First AC cabin – nothing different
Comforter put away in a zipper bag – quite neat
Clean carpet
Black Coffee on board
Cornflakes (milk on the way)
Followed by Upma neatly served
Crossing Vaitarna station before entering Virar
Ride#2 – Mumbai CST to Pune by Pragati Express
I’d reached the platform quite early, and so had to cool off for over an hour before the coach was opened. Before other folks could come in, I took a quick tour of the coach. The coach EV1 is at the fag end of the train on the CST – Pune sector. It makes little sense to take this coach on the Pune – CST sector as the loco would block views from the viewing gallery.
What I liked about the Vistadome coach
- Beautifully upholstered seats
- Transparent panels on the roof
- Luggage rack just outside the coach on one end – no overhead bins as in other coaches
- Wide viewing gallery at the rear end makes one feel as if one’s riding in an AC caboose
What I disliked
- Washrooms (available only at one end of the coach) poorly kept
- Roof glass panels were all dirty – unobstructed view of the sky overhead was lacking
- Some passengers placed their feet on the panel in front; poor decorum
Small yet significant observations
- One can’t take pictures from the Viewing Gallery in low outside light – the reflection overpowers the camera
- Best views from the Vistadome coach Viewing Gallery are enjoyed when the coach is at the rear of the train and when the outside light is good
Let the pictures speak
Vistadome coach as viewed from outside
Viewing Gallery with the loco in front – this is how the view would have been on the Pune to CST sector
Viewing Gallery – unobstructed view when the coach is at the end of the train
View of the cabin from the Viewing Gallery
View of the cabin – just Wow!
View of the roof – note that the transparent panels are letting some light in but aren’t clean
Luggage rack
Some passengers who love to stretch and dirty the panel in front
Views from the Viewing Gallery enroute Panvel to Karjat
Panvel – Karjat line merging with the main Ambernath – Karjat line
Banker locos coming in to get attached – views from the Viewing Gallery will be lost, but enough shots already taken
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