Indian Railways is one of the largest rail networks in the world. But do you know how the Indian trains got their different names? let’s begin
How was Rajdhani Express named?
Rajdhani Express is the train that connects the capital of India, New Delhi, to the capitals of other states. Hence, these trains were named Rajdhani Express.
But do you know that a Rajdhani Express is named after a park?
Rajdhani Express started on 1st January 1992, between Hazrat Nizamuddin station in New Delhi to Mumbai Central. This Rajdhani train is called ‘August Kranti Express’. This train was named after the famous August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai. This ground is in central Mumbai, where on 8 August 1942, Mahatma Gandhi launched the historic Quit India Movement.
This is where Gandhiji gave the slogan ‘Do or Die. When it was decided that a second Rajdhani Express will be run between New Delhi’s Nizamuddin and Mumbai Central, it was named after August Kranti Maidan.
How was Coromandel Express named?
In 1977, Coromandel Express was started between Howrah to Chennai Central.
What is the story behind the name Coromandel Express?
Basically, the area of the Chola dynasty was called, ‘Cholamandalam’ in Tamil, and the name ‘Coromandel’ was derived from this Cholamandalam. The South Eastern Coast of the Indian Peninsula is called the ‘Coromandel Coast’, and the train is named Coromandel Express after it.
How was the Duronto Express train named?
Duronto Express train is a special train service of Indian Railways, which is the first non-stop rail service in the history of India, connecting metro cities with important state capitals.
But why was it named Duronto? What does Duronto mean?
Duronto is a Bengali word that has two meanings. One is restless and the other is very fast-moving. Here, Duronto means ‘one who moves fast‘. Duronto, whilst taking some technical halts, runs nonstop from its source station to the destination station.
All Duronto Express trains are painted in yellow and green colors, which makes this train appear different from other trains.
How was the Hutatma Express named?
On 15th July 2000, a train started between Pune-Solapur in Maharashtra, which was named Hutatma Express.
In 1930, when Mahatma Gandhi started the Dandi March, inspired by it, the freedom fighters of Solapur in Maharashtra, decided to hoist the Tricolour on the Solapur Municipal Council. In the history of India, this was the first incident of hoisting the Tricolour on a municipal council building.
A senior freedom fighter from Pune, Annasaheb Bhopatkar, on 6th April 1930, unfurled the Tricolour at the Solapur Municipal Council building. By imposing martial law, the British arrested many leaders and innocent citizens on false charges.
Freedom fighters Mallappa Dhanshetty, Qurban Hussain, Jagannath Shinde, and Kisan Sarda, were arrested on the charge of killing two police officers at Mangalwar Police Station. The court sentenced them to death. All these four freedom fighters were hanged on 12th January 1931.
In honor of these martyrs, the statues of these freedom fighters were placed in the center of Solapur city and named that square Hutatma Chowk. Hutatma Express was named after this Hutatma Chowk.
How was the Maitree Express named?
Do you know that between India and Bangladesh, there is a superfast international train? This train runs between Kolkata and Dhaka Cantt. The name of this train is Maitree Express. In the Bengali language, it is also known as Moitri Express.
On 14th April 2008, the Bengali New Year, the train service which had been closed for 43 years, was reintroduced, and both the countries declared their friendly relation. Hence, the train has been
named Maitree Express.
Do you know about an Indian Royal train that carries a palace on its wheels?
Do you know that at one time, Rajas and Maharajas used to travel in these coaches? the name of the train is Palace on Wheels. that is, a king’s palace on wheels. Before India’s independence, the Rajas, the Maharajas and the British used to travel in their personal royal carts.
After independence, the monarchy came to an end. Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation and Indian Railways, in memory of that bygone Royal era, on 26th January 1982, started the service of Palace on Wheels.
Then, the royal carts of the princes of the princely states of Rajasthan were installed on the train, which they used for their personal use.
With world-class facilities, this train gives a grand and royal feel. Due to royal cabins, multi-cuisine restaurant, lounge, gym, spa, and bar facilities, this train gives the experience of a five-star hotel.
This Royal train starts from Delhi and tours Rajasthan’s tourist places, like Pink City- Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Ranthambore, Chittorgarh, city of lakes- Udaipur, Bharatpur, and completes its journey to the City of Love, Agra.
This entire journey is completed in seven to eight days. In 1987, the Palace on Wheels was awarded the PATA Gold Award and in 2009, it was honored as Asia’s Best Train.