This is India’s cheapest AC train, rivals Rajdhani Express in speed, not Vande Bharat, Shatabdi, the train is…., its runs between…

Garib Rath Express: The Indian Railways, the fourth largest railway network in the world, manages and operates around 13,000 passenger trains on a daily basis, and offers some of the lowest train fares in the world as the national transporter sells train tickets at a whopping 46 percent discount to passengers.

But do you know which is cheapest AC train in India, and rivals even the superfast Rajdhani Express in speed? Let us find out.

India’s cheapest AC train

The highly-popular ‘Garib Rath’ is the cheapest AC train in the country, offering comfortable AC travel to passengers at fares that are much lower compared to other AC trains operated by the Indian Railways. Dubbed by many as the ‘Poor Man’s Rajdhani’, the Garib Rath was started in 2006 with an explicit of providing low-cost AC travel to passengers who could not afford regular AC trains like the Shatabdi or Rajdhani Express.

The Garib Rath Express embarked on its maiden journey from Bihar’s Saharsa to Amritsar in Punjab, on October 4, 2006. and today the train run 26 different routes, including key routes like Delhi-Chennai, Patna-Kolkata, and Delhi-Mumbai, connecting major cities across the country.

Garib Rath fares

As mentioned above, the Garib Rath is the cheapest AC train in India, offering AC travel for as low as just 68 paise per kilometer, making it one of the most pocket-friendly train fares globally. For comparison, while other trains charge between Rs 1200 to Rs 1400 for 3rd AC on the New Delhi-Gorakhpur route, Garib Rath charges a fare of just Rs 815 for the same journey, making it an inexpensive option for travelers who want to save money.

Notably, AC trains in India charge almost double fares than sleeper trains, with trains like the Rajdhani, Shatabdi Express, and more recently, the Vande Bharat Express, being the preferred choice of train travelers. But, unlike the Garib Rath, the fares for these premium trains come at a premium price which many cannot afford.

Garib Rath speed

Apart from its low fares, the Garib Rath also rivals some of India’s fastest express trains in speed. According to details, the maximum operating speed of the Garib Rath is 130 kmph, which is the same as that of the Rajdhani Express. Additionally, the Garib Rath trains, despite the low fares, are equipped with all the amenities required by travelers, including comfortable seats, and clean toilets.

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