Iconic Mumbai–Pune Deccan Queen Gets Modern Upgrades, Train Mahotsav Celebrated at CSMT

Pune/Mumbai, 27th March 2026: Central Railway celebrated the Train Mahotsav of the iconic Deccan Queen Express (Train No. 12123/12124) at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) on March 27, 2026, marking the legacy of one of Indian Railways’ most historic and prestigious trains.

The event, held ahead of the train’s scheduled departure at 17:10 hrs, saw participation from passengers, railway officials, rail enthusiasts, and members of the public. The Deccan Queen was decorated with floral arrangements, reflecting its historic and royal identity, while an audio-visual presentation traced the train’s journey since its introduction in 1930 and highlighted its contributions to Indian Railways.

During the event, Central Railway showcased several upgraded passenger amenities introduced on the Deccan Queen. These included a refurbished dining car with heritage-themed interiors, modern furniture, and improved ambience. Lavatories were upgraded with vinyl flooring, duro wipe mats, and modern fittings such as soap and tissue dispensers. AC Chair Car coaches received new seat covers and improved doorway areas, while coach interiors were redesigned with new roof and panel boards featuring vibrant themes. Air fragrance dispensers were also installed to improve onboard ambience.

The Deccan Queen has undergone multiple upgrades over the decades. The train was originally introduced with two rakes of seven coaches each, with underframes built in England and coach bodies built at Matunga Workshop of the GIP Railway. In 1966, the original coaches were replaced with anti-telescopic steel-bodied integral coaches built by Integral Coach Factory, Perambur, and the number of coaches was later increased from seven to twelve. In 1995, the old rakes were replaced with new air brake rakes.

In August 2021, a Vistadome coach was added to the Mumbai–Pune Deccan Queen, allowing passengers to experience scenic views of the Western Ghats. In June 2022, all conventional coaches were replaced with LHB coaches under Project Utkrisht, introducing modern features such as LED lighting, bio-toilets, and Braille signage.

The train currently runs with a revised composition of 16 coaches, including three AC Chair Cars, nine Second Class Chair Cars, one Vistadome coach, one Dining Car, one General Second Class-cum-Guard’s Brake Van, and a Generator Car.

The Deccan Queen also holds several distinctions in Indian Railways history, including the introduction of roller-bearing coaches, self-generating coaches with a 110-volt system, and the first introduction of First and Second Class Chair Cars.

A unique feature of the Deccan Queen is its dedicated dining car, which offers table service to passengers. The dining car is equipped with modern pantry facilities such as a microwave oven, deep freezer, and toaster, along with cushioned seating and carpeted interiors.

The event was attended by General Manager Central Railway Prateek Goswami, Divisional Railway Manager Mumbai Division Hiresh Mina, Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer Subodh Kumar Sagar, along with senior officers, staff, rail enthusiasts, and passengers.