Mumbai-Surat Flying Ranee Express dons a new avatar, to run with LHB rake

Surat : Western Railway has decided to replace the conventional rake of Train No. 12921/12922 Mumbai Central – Surat Flying Ranee Express with LHB rake in order to improve passenger comfort.

Darshana Jardosh, Hon’ble Minister of State for Railways and Textiles, will flag off the newly renovated train from Mumbai Central Station on Sunday, July 16, 2023, and will also ride on this tremendously popular train.

According to Sumit Thakur, Western Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, the tremendously popular Surat bound Express train began its voyage in 1906. The Ranee set another record in 1965 when it was named the country’s fastest medium-distance train.

At the same time, Western Railway altered its tint, giving it a distinguishing light and dark coat of blue. The train was then carried by a WP locomotive, which had a modified steam engine that didn’t need any water en route. The Ranee was painted a bright and dark green in November 1976, and it eventually got a modern electric traction system in June 1977. On December 18, 1979, the Ranee became the first train in Indian Railways history to be coupled with the “revolutionary” double-decker carriages.

According Thakur, the conventional rake of Train No. 12921/12922 Mumbai Central – Surat Flying Ranee Express will henceforth operate with LHB rakes instead of conventional rakes from July 16th, 2023 from Mumbai Central and July 17th, 2023 from Surat.

The train will have 21 coaches, including an AC Chair Car (reserved), Second Class Seating (7 coaches reserved, 1 coach reserved for First Class MST passholders, and 6 coaches unreserved), and General Second Class coaches (1 coach designated as General, 1 coach designated for Second Class MST passholders, 1 coach designated for Ladies, and one coach designated for Second Class MST Ladies passholders). This modification will give travellers with more comfort while also increasing safety.