Commonwealth Games train to chug in June

With the Commonwealth Games barely five months away, Railways will launch a special exhibition train in June to mark the countdown to the sporting extravaganza in the capital.

The train will comprise 14 coaches bringing alive the sports and Commonwealth Games in its varied hues along with itinerary of the sporting event which begins on October 3.

The train will begin its three-month journey from Safdarjung station in the capital and come back here after travelling the country covering about 50 to 60 stations.

Its itinerary has been prepared coinciding with the Commonwealth Games baton relay and it will touch the places through which the baton will pass.

The ministry has waived off operational charges accrued during its journey.

"The train will be dedicated to the themes of youth, sports and information technology," said an official in the Railways, adding, through this train Railway Ministry will seek to inculcate interest in sports across the country.

"Indian Railways, with its strong national presence, is the best medium for spreading this kind of message to every nook and corner of the country and hence the idea of running the special train," he said.

The train will run for about three months across the country, starting and terminating in Delhi.

Railway minister Mamata Banerjee had announced the launch of this special train in her Budget speech this year.

The Ministry of Railways and Department of Information Technology are closely coordinating the project.

The train will also showcase the achievements of the Indian Railways in the field of sports.

"The train shall be representative of the synergy between Railways and sports during the time of Commonwealth Games," the official said.

The train will also exhibit IT-related services like maintaining of birth and death records and land records.