Q. When were Shatabdis introduced? Which was the first one?
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The Shatabdi Express trains are fast inter-city express trains which aim to provide daytime service noticeably faster than the other "superfast" trains over medium distances, generally providing for a same-day return (leave early in the morning, and return late at night). They are aimed primarily at businessmen and tourists. The Shatabdis have airconditioned rakes and two classes of accommodation: executive chair car and ordinary chair car. The price of meals and refreshments is included in the fare.
"Shatabdi"...
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indicates a century in Hindi; the service was started to commemorate the Nehru centenary in 1989. The first Shatabdi between New Delhi and Jhansi was flagged off in July 1988. In 1989 it was extended to Bhopal. In 1989 another Shatabdi was started between New Delhi and Kanpur, and later extended to Lucknow.
The Bhopal Shatabdi is booked to run at a speed of 140km/h between New Delhi and Agra, and at 130km/h between Agra and Bhopal, making it the fastest train in the country. It was also the first train to cover the New Delhi - Agra section in under two hours, taking 115 minutes, handily beating the Taj Exp. which was the previous speed record holder on that section (it takes around 2.5 hours for the same stretch).
Later Shatabdis have in general not been as fast as the Bhopal Shatabdi, but they do normally achieve speeds of 120-130km/h. Some Shatabdis (including the Bhopal one) use WAP3 locos, others use WAP1's and also WDM2's in unlectrified sections. One of the newer Shatabdis, the Swarna Shatabdi Exp. between Amritsar and New Delhi has a dedicated rake with several new features. The new [5/01] fast train between New Delhi and Lucknow with Alstom-LHB coaches capable of running at 160km/h is also called a Swarna Shatabdi Express.
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A bug related to private/group chatting has been fixed. As it works now, if you click on any Chak De link, the window will be Public, Private or Group depending on context.
1. Original Blog Entry is private: In this case, all the replies are also private, by inheritance. Any "Chak De" link within this Blog Entry will be a private window, and all messages will be private posts and IM posts will go to the participants of the public Blog Entry.
2. Original Blog Entry is public, but one or 2 replies...
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are private. If you can see the private post, it means you are a participant of that private group. If you click on that Chak De link, this would be a private window. If you click on any other public "Chak De" link this window would be public.
In all cases, the top of the Chak De window will clearly says if this is a public or private chat/blog, and who the participants are.
Thanks.

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A new experimental concept is being introduced today, called Chak De/Go Live. It is a mixture of Instant Messaging/Blogging/Twitter/Following posts, uniquely adapted to this site. It will soon be adapted and integrated with the other tabs - News, PNR, Trip Diary, Train Updates and so forth. Especially, the Trip Diary/Chak De/Living Atlas integration is coming soon.
The feature was originally slated to be released on Aug 15, coinciding with the Independence Day logo, but was delayed because of some complications.
This...
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feature has many different perspectives and flavours, and can be used in different ways in different scenarios:
1. Scenario 1: "Following". You can now follow specific Blog Entries. On this site, we have the various alert flags to indicate new activity. However, the Blog Alert and other flags will not specifically say which Blog Entry any new post is related to. If you just wish to follow particular discussions, you can now just go to that particular Blog Entry, and open a "Chak De" window. This window will capture all the latest Replies and the upcoming replies for that particular Blog Entry ONLY. New replies will appear instantaneously, like any other IM. When you open the "Chak De" window, you need not necessarily type anything. You may just observe as new replies start pouring in.
For example, a person may post a question in a new Blog Entry, and then open a Chak De window waiting for replies and responses to his question.
2. Scenario 2: IM + Public Blogging: In this scenario, it is just like starting and participating in a public chat room, with replies, pictures and videos posted immediately to the Blog Forum. Also, as above, new replies will appear immediately in the Chak De window.
3. Private chatting: You may send a private Blog Post to any person, and open a Chak De window against that Blog Entry. If they are free, they may respond thru a Blog Post, and themselves go live thru the Chak De window. Now, a Pvt Post has transformed into live pvt chatting, without having to send a request and accept. If the person fails to send a response immediately, he/she will send it later in a conventional Blog Post. So nothing is lost.
4. Private chatting inside a Blog Entry: When a topic is being discussed, sometimes private posts are sent intermixed to specific person for a side discussion. The recipient may respond, and both may opt to open their individual Chak De windows to convert this into a private chat within the context of the Blog Entry.
5. Group Chatting: You may write a private post to a few people and all the participants of that group post can dynamically convert this into a group chat. This private blog entry has now dynamically transformed into a private chat room.
6. Storage/Archives: With normal chatting, if a person fails to respond to a chat invite, the messages sent are orphaned. Here all messages will be stored as regular Blog Posts. So, even if a person does not immediately respond, they have the option of replying later. All "Chak De" windows directly write to the Blog Forum. Pubic and Private Posts are stored within the main Blog Forum.
You can have many live windows running simultaneously following individual Blog Entries. With conventional chatting, the chat windows are grouped by the people we are chatting with. Here, the chat windows are grouped by the individual topic Blog Entries. The participants could be public or private or group. Conversations are free-flowing and dynamic.
While following many topics, a chat alert sound and a highlighted visual marker will notify when you receive new replies on the specific Blog Entries you are following.
chak de/go live is a new concept being tried out for the first time here, and it is still rudimentary. Many modifications and tweaks will be made in the coming days and weeks.
Due to the potential for misuse, the chak de window is restricted to logged in members only. Members are advised to limit their Blog Posts to relevant topics only. Please exercise restraint in posting.
Thanks.

Deccan Odyssey Facilities:
Redefining Luxury Train Travelling
The Deccan Odyssey is one of the most revered luxury trains in India, specifically designed to provide an opulent ride on the Konkan route. A jewel in the crown of Indian Luxury trains, Deccan Odyssey is renowned for its exceptional luxury, modern facilities and impeccable hospitality. It is the train where your dream of luxury turns into reality.
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joint venture of the Maharashtra government and Ministry of Railways, Government of India, Deccan Odyssey offers you an unforgettable week-long sojourn exploring heritage sites of Ajanta and Ellora, splendid forts and castles of Sindhugarh, serene beaches of Goa and cultural richness of Nasik and Kolhapur. The Deccan Odyssey train offers 7 nights and 8 days journey.
Deccan Odyssey is often compared to the renowned Venice Simpson Orient Express of Europe for its flawless service. The train is an effort to recreate the art of elegant train travelling in India. Mentioned below is the details of various Deccan Odyssey facilities provided onboard this luxury train.
Accommodation
The train has 12 fully-air conditioned coaches with each having 4-twin-bedded cabins to accommodate guests. All cabins are equipped with modern amenities and comforts which includes channel piped music, intercom, CD/MP3 player, running hot and cold water, shower, wall to wall carpeting and attached bathrooms. The guests are also provided with a complimentary bottle of wine in their rooms.
Dining and Bar
There are two aesthetically appointed, suave restaurants namely Peshwa I and Peshwa II. They offer an array of Indian and International mouth-tingling cuisines and the food catering is managed by the prestigious Taj Group of Hotels. A well-stocked bar, namely, Mumbai Hi serves wines and spirits of International brands onboard.
Conference Car
A special conference car is also available onboard for those who want to conduct business meetings. The conference car is equipped with ample facilities to enable successful business seminars and conferences. Some of the facilities include with computers, internet access and LCD screens among others.
Other Facilities
One of the exclusive Deccan Odyssey facilities is the rejuvenating spa available onboard for guests to enjoy steam bath and Ayurvedic massage. A gymnasium is also available for health conscious guests. Other facilities also include a lounge where guest can have a tête-à-tête and get to know each other in comfort of plush furnishings and panoramic views.
To say that luxury train traveling in India has touched a new high with Deccan Odyssey would not be an overstatement. During the seven nights and eight days itinerary on board this luxury train in India, the experience aboard becomes the part of your journey. With meticulously selected destinations, gracious hospitality and plush facilities on board Deccan Odyssey, a promising and unforgettable trip illumining the rich heritage and culture of Maharashtra is definitely in store for you aboard this train.

The costly disruption to rail travel caused by the breakdown of overhead power lines could become a thing of the past thanks to a new research project at City University London. It will develop an early warning system to detect defects before they escalate and cause major failures – a problem known as ‘dewirement’. City’s Professors Ken Grattan and Tong Sun have received £102,000 in funding from the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) collaboration fund, to develop a prototype sensor system with a range of industrial partners.It will use novel optical sensors attached to pantographs – the devices that collect power for trains from overhead lines – to measure critical strain and temperature parameters as they run along the wires. This has not been feasible before since traditional electrical sensors would be affected by the high voltages carried by such equipment.“Significant dewirements occur approximately five times a year in...
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the UK, rendering tracks unusable until the overhead system is repaired,” says Professor Sun. “The resulting interruption to journeys costs many millions of pounds, both to the rail industry and the wider economy. Our aim is to spot when a failure is likely and enable rail operators to carry out preventative maintenance.”The University’s interdisciplinary network on transport challenges, the City Collaborative Transport Hub, will play an important role in the research, with Hub advisor and rail expert, Visiting Professor David Johnson, bringing crucial links with industry. These include manufacturers, Brecknell Willis and Morganite Electrical Carbon, which will provide staff hours and resources, as well as Network Rail and the Rail Safety and Standards Board.Professor Johnson comments: “Advance warning of problems will resolve one of the major technical challenges facing the rail industry today, improving the cost-effectiveness, safety and reliability of the electric train fleet operation and making wider network electrification more attractive.”Funding for the project was secured with support from technology transfer specialists within City University London’s Enterprise Office and the research is the latest in a series of initiatives by the University in the transport sector. It recently launched a Masters in Transport Strategy and Systems to help create a new generation of professionals who can deliver the smart, sustainable and integrated transport infrastructure that the future will demand