Unveiled Kankaria's Red Ride

Atal Express is almost black, but the second mini-train at the lakefront will be blood-red. The new train will arrive in the city from UK in September

Red  That’s going to be the colour of the second mini-train at Kankaria lakefront. The train will arrive in Ahmedabad from the UK in September and is likely to be christened ‘Swarnim Express’.

Mirror, on April 21, reported that the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) had placed an order for another mini-train following the popularity of Atal Express, which has made the civic body richer by Rs 2.5 crore.

A senior civic official said that Atal Express and the second train would chug on the same track. “Once the new train arrives, we will try to begin rides as quickly as possible,” he said.

UK-based firm Severn & Lamb, which manufactured Atal Express, will also deliver the second train. The civic body will pay Rs 2.25 crore for this train, about Rs 11 lakh more than it did for the first one.

Like the first one, the new model is also a Lincoln Locomotive. It has the look of the bygone era, but it’s efficiency matches modern-day machines. One can steer and control its speed with the same lever.

While the AMC will not lay another track for Swarnim Express, it will provide it a separate shelter. In fact, it is in the process of issuing a tender for construction of the shelter.

Atal Express, which makes 22 trips every day, began its journey at Kankaria lakefront on December 25, 2008. It has contributed Rs 2.5 crore to the civic administration’s coffers. 

New ride, same fare

It won’t cost you more to take a ride on the red mini-train that is expected to arrive at Kankaria lakefront in September. Tickets for children aged between 3 and 12 will cost Rs 10 each. Students above 12 years will get a discount of Rs 5. They, however, will have produce their ID card to be avail the discount. People of other age groups will have to pay Rs 25.