Latest news with #FirstAC
Time of India
4 days ago
- Time of India
Italian tourists robbed on board Mandore Express
Jaipur: Two foreign tourists were robbed aboard the Mandore Express traveling from Delhi to Jodhpur Tuesday night. Officials said that a family of five Italian tourists were travelling in two separate cabins with three in one and two in another cabin. According to reports, the tourists had boarded the train from Jaipur. Shortly after departure, they discovered that two of their bags, placed near their seats in the First AC coach, had gone missing. The stolen items included Rs 2 lakh, Apple AirPods, an Apple Pencil, and important documents. "We were asleep and woke up to find our bags missing. Everything important was inside, money, gadgets, papers," said the victims. They immediately alerted the train's ticket examiner and security personnel. Upon arriving at Jodhpur Railway Station, the tourists filed an FIR at the Railway Protection Force (RPF) police station. Both RPF and Government Railway Police (GRP) teams have now launched an investigation. Senior DCM Jodhpur Vikas Kheda reached the station and met with the victims. "This is a serious matter. An investigation has been launched, and the culprits will be arrested soon," he assured the foreign tourists. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Treatment That Might Help You Against Knee Pain Knee pain | search ads Find Now Undo Kheda said the passports of the tourists were left by the thieves in a different compartment of the train, but currency and gadgets were stolen. He in the First AC coach, which is typically under GRP surveillance. However, he said that a strict investigation is being done to arrest the accused. The railways team immediately reached the location to investigate the matter and is following thorough channels to arrest the accused. The incident has raised pressing questions about onboard security and the safety of international visitors traveling on Indian trains, said train passengers. Authorities are currently reviewing CCTV footage and coach rosters to trace the thieves, said officials. (with inputs from IANS)
India Today
09-07-2025
- India Today
Sealdah Rajdhani turns first AC coach into a heritage museum on wheels. Key details
The Sealdah Division of Eastern Railway has turned the First AC coach of the Sealdah Rajdhani Express into something extraordinary, a moving museum named 'A Tale of Two Capitals.' Launched as part of the 25th-anniversary celebration of the prestigious train, this unique coach brings the shared legacy of Kolkata and Delhi to life for its one-of-a-kind initiative lets travellers experience more than just a train ride. As they settle into their seats, they're surrounded by vivid art, historical imagery, and cultural storytelling that traces the journey of India's two major cities from ancient sages to modern icons. Sealdah Rajdhani turns first AC coach into a heritage museum on wheels advertisementDESIGNATED WITH PURPOSE AND PASSIONUnder the guidance of Sealdah DRM Rajiv Saxena and the leadership of Rohit Ranjan from the Carriage and Wagon Department, the coach has been beautifully reimagined. Inside, passengers will find walls covered with intricate artwork and story-driven visuals that showcase Kolkata and Delhi's deep-rooted features visuals of legendary reformers and thinkers like Raja Rammohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, and Rabindranath are glimpses of the vibrant Durga Puja celebrations and iconic landmarks such as the Victoria Memorial and Delhi's Government House. The coach's makeover was carefully curated to offer a cultural deep dive while in motion. Sealdah Rajdhani turns first AC coach into a heritage museum on wheels MORE THAN A JOURNEY, ITS AN EXPERIENCE Sealdah Rajdhani turns first AC coach into a heritage museum on wheels This museum-on-wheels isn't just about nostalgia; it's an effort to enhance the travel experience while educating people on the unique cultural bond between these two you're a regular Rajdhani traveller or boarding for the first time, this First AC coach adds a layer of storytelling and immersion that no other train offers right blending travel with culture, Eastern Railway has made this journey more than a means to reach a destination, it's now a ride through to officials, the goal was to 'gift passengers a memorable experience,' and by all accounts, they've done just that. Sealdah Rajdhani turns first AC coach into a heritage museum on wheels CULTURAL RIDE FOR EVERY PASSENGERAs the Sealdah Rajdhani speeds between two of India's most storied cities, passengers are now offered a front-row seat to their shared 'Tale of Two Capitals' is not just a visual delight; it's an educational and emotional ride that will stay with travellers long after their journey you're from Delhi or Kolkata or just love Indian history, this new coach turns every ride into a time capsule of culture and connection.- Ends
Time of India
27-06-2025
- Time of India
1,400 drug traffickers held; smugglers now hide bags in AC coaches after unreserved travel to Tamil Nadu
Chennai: In 2024, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) arrested 1,489 traffickers and seized narcotics worth over ₹227.5 crore across India, with Tamil Nadu emerging as a key destination in several major seizures. Intelligence gathered by the RPF and Greater Chennai Police (GCP) revealed a shift in modus operandi among smugglers using the railway network to move drugs into the state. One such emerging trend is traffickers travelling without reservations, blending in with unreserved passengers—often migrant workers from Odisha and West Bengal—to avoid leaving any traceable digital footprint. RPF officials say this tactic allows traffickers to bypass identification that would otherwise be possible through reserved ticket records. To counter this, the RPF intensified checks in unreserved compartments and flagged passengers with disproportionately large bags. However, in response, traffickers have now adopted a new tactic: abandoning drug-laden bags in First AC and Second AC coaches, where checks are rare, said a senior police officer from GCP's Anti-Narcotics Intelligence Unit. You Can Also Check: Chennai AQI | Weather in Chennai | Bank Holidays in Chennai | Public Holidays in Chennai "They later board the train a few stops ahead of Chennai and retrieve these bags just before reaching the city. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 안구건조 걱정 없이 안전하게! 강남아이원스안과 지금 신청하기 Undo Many get down at lesser-patrolled stations like Tada, Gummidipoondi, or Ponneri to avoid the intense surveillance at Chennai Central," the officer said. This new method came to light during recent operations, including a case in March 2024 where 31.5 kg of methamphetamine, valued at ₹150 crore, was seized from a passenger on the Pothigai Express in Madurai. Tamil Nadu continues to be a prominent endpoint in narcotics routes from Odisha, Jharkhand, and the northeast, especially for cannabis and synthetic drugs. With trains running through relatively unchecked corridors and night services offering anonymity, traffickers have increasingly relied on railways to supply narcotics to high-demand cities like Chennai and Bengaluru. According to the RPF, apart from general compartments, parcel vans, and luggage sections of long-distance trains are also frequently exploited. The RPF, now empowered under the NDPS Act since 2019, is using dog squads, crime mapping, and joint raids with the Narcotics Control Bureau to crack down on this network. But officers admit challenges remain, especially with scanning gaps in parcel services and the absence of X-ray baggage checks at key stations in Tamil Nadu.
New Indian Express
17-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Now, travel in Third AC at the fare of sleeper
CHENNAI: In a key policy shift, Indian Railways have issued instructions to fill all vacant seats and berths in AC coaches of trains through the 'auto upgrade' facility with holders of confirmed tickets from lower classes like Sleeper Class (SL) and Second Sitting (2S) during the preparation of the first chart, which is usually done four hours before the departure of a train from its source. The move is likely to make the Current Booking (CB) facility unavailable in AC coaches, such as Chair Car (CC), Third AC (3A), Second AC (2A), and First AC (1A). However, the CB will be available for SL and 2S. The CB facility was introduced for last-minute bookings, if there are any vacancies after the preparation of the first chart. It is allowed usually up to 30 minutes before departure. Seats will be available under the CB category for any train only if there are vacant seats – after emergency quotas and different types of waitlists are processed – available after the preparation of the first chart. With Railways deciding to prioritise filling seats in AC coaches through auto upgrades, such CB vacancies are unlikely to become available in AC coaches, except in very rare situations when seats remain vacant even after upgrades. The new changes communicated by the Railway Board to Southern Railway and all other zonal railways on Thursday will not only ensure that all the seats and berths in AC classes get occupied to the maximum extent possible but also enhance the chances of confirmed tatkal ticket holders in SL and 2S to get upgraded to 3A or CC, respectively. The Railway Board has also ordered that upgrades can be done only up to two levels. For example, SL can be upgraded to 3A and 2A. Similarly, 2S tickets may be upgraded to Vistadome 2S or CC. Upgrades to 1A and Executive Class are, however, restricted to only one level below, that is, from 2A to 1A or from CC to EC. For instance, a person with confirmed ticket in 3A cannot get upgraded to 1A. Auto upgrade – such as from SL to 3A and from 3A to 2A – facility was introduced in 2006. However, this facility is limited to passengers who paid the highest fare in their class, which would mean those who paid tatkal fare or full fare of the tickets without availing of any concessions. An official from the Southern Railway stated, 'Currently, most AC seats and berths get fully booked across the zone. However, during off-peak periods, on trains with higher AC seat availability, passengers with non-AC tickets might receive upgrades.'
