Mumbai: It’s a gift from Indian Railway to all its passengers travelling from Mumbai to Pune on Deccan Queen Express 88th birthday. The Deccan Queen popular on Mumbai-Pune route has got a refurbish dining car with brand new interiors and complete PVC flooring.

Central Railway chief public relations officer Sunil Udasi said, “the revamp work was carried out in Matunga workshop and the new dining car with passenger amenities was attached to Deccan Queen on Sunday evening.”

In the wash basin area, the wall has been provided with stainless steel plate behind mirror. A chequered plate has been provided in the sink and passage area, officials said.

“The chairs for passengers have been provided with covers while inside the kitchen, the water pipeline obstructing movement of sliding door of storage almirah has been modified resulting in closing of sliding doors properly,” an official stated.

The only dining car in the entire fleet of Indian Railways recently got a facelift, and is back for service. The modified car in the Deccan Queen, which operates daily between Mumbai and Pune, have got new sitting arrangements and improved interiors.

Pictures of the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus building adorn the interiors, and boards explaining history of the train have been put up at various places. The express train is popular on the Mumbai-Pune route, and after constant demands from the commuters, the Central Railway finally revamped the dining car.

Changes have also been undertaken in the kitchen area to ensure its smooth functioning.

The water pipeline near the storage space has been modified to so that it does not obstruct the sliding doors. PVC flooring has also been installed on the entire dining area of the train. The revamp work was undertaken at the Railway’s Matunga workshop.

The Central Railways’ divisional railway manager, Ravinder Goyal, had inspected the dining car of the Deccan Queen before the maintenance work was planned. A periodic haul of the train was done, and the modified dining car was inducted in the service on Sunday evening.

Sunil Udasi, chief public relation officer, Central Railway, said, “The modification was done in the dining car during the periodic haul. The demand for the changes and modification had come from the commuters who travel by the train daily.”

Steffy Thevar, a regular commuter of the Deccan Queen, said, “I work in Mumbai and my home is in Pune. I always travel by Deccan Queen during weekends. The dining car is the best thing about the train, and it feels great to have a delicious meal while passing through the ghats. A modified dining car will be an added facility in the train, and will improve the travel experience.”

The Deccan Queen express completed 87 years of operation on the Mumbai – Pune route this May. The express train was introduced on June 1, 1930 with only seven coaches.