Bengaluru: With the aim to boost tourism, the South Western Railways (SWR) is likely to operate vistadome (glass-top) air conditioned coaches on trains plying through major tourist routes in the state. Accordingly, the railway’s tourism and catering directorate has requested the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to identify potential routes for vistadome coaches.
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An official communication from the railway board to all zones stated that the IRCTC had identified routes across various railway zones after considering the scenic beauty and potential tourist flow.
IRCTS has identified several routes within SWR including Bengaluru-Karwar, Bengaluru-Shivamogga via Kadur (Chikkamagalur), Bengaluru-Goa, Bengaluru-Mangaluru, Mangaluru-Goa via Udupi, Bengaluru-Mysuru and Bengaluru-Hosapete (Hampi).
The luxurious vistadome coaches will be attached to the existing trains. These new coaches have 40 reclining chairs that can rotate 360 degrees. Along with the glass roof, the coaches will also have LED lights, GPS-enabled info system, microwave oven and small refrigerators.
