The “Deccan Queen” one of Central Railway's most prestigious and popular train will enter its glorious 96 th year of service on 1 st June 2025. It will complete 95 years of service to its esteemed passengers.

The train* introduced between Mumbai and Pune* the two premier cities of Maharashtra on 1st June 1930 was a major landmark in the history of the Great Indian Peninsula Railway* the forerunner of the Central Railway.

This was the first deluxe train introduced on the railway to serve 2 important cities of the region and was aptly named as “Deccan Queen” or “Dakkan ki Rani”

*Journey till now*

* The “Deccan Queen” was initially introduced with 2 rakes of 7 coaches each* one of which was painted in silver with scarlet moldings and the other with royal blue with gold lines.

* The under frames of the coaches of the original rakes were built in England while the coach bodies were built at Matunga Workshop of the GIP Railway.

* The coaches of the original rakes were replaced in 1966 by anti-telescopic steel bodied integral coaches built by Integral Coach Factory* Perambur.

The number of coaches was increased from 7 to 12

* The old rakes were replaced with new air brake rakes in 1995

* The Mumbai-Pune Deccan Queen was attached with a Vistadome coach with effect from 15.8.2021. This provided passengers a golden opportunity to have a wonderful view of the breathtaking scenery as the train traversed through the Western Ghats.

* All the Conventional coaches of Deccan Queen Express were replaced with LHB coaches in June 2022. under Project Uttarakhand. These coaches have modern facilities like LED lights* Bio toilets* Braille Signages etc.

* The train now runs with revised composition of 16 Coaches viz. Three AC Chair Car* 9 Second Class Chair Car* One Vista dome coach* One Dining Car* One General Second class cum Guard's brake van and Generator Car.

*First time in India*

Deccan Queen has the distinction of having many Firsts to its credit.

* Coaches with roller bearings introduced for the 1st time

* End on generation coaches replaced with self-generating coaches with 110 volts system for the 1 st time

* First and Second class Chair Cars introduced for the 1 st time

*Unique Feature- The only train with a Dining Car*

The Deccan Queen is the only running train with facility of a Dining Car* which offers table service and has modern pantry facilities such as microwave oven* deep freezer and toaster. The dining car is also tastefully furnished with cushioned chairs and carpet.

The history of Deccan Queen (Dakkhan ki Rani) is literally a tale of two cities. The public of both the cities are happy with the impeccable record of “right time start” and “arrival” of Deccan Queen. Over the last 95 years of its colorful history* the train has grown from a mere medium of transportation between two cities into an institution binding generation of intensely loyal passengers.