India’s new underwater metro
The new Howrah Maidan and Esplanade rail line opened to the public on Friday, March 15. The 4,8km route includes a 520-metre under-river passage through the Hooghly River, India’s first underwater metro route.
The line connects Kolkata on the east side of the river to Howrah on the west bank. It is part of India’s East-West metro line project, which began in 2009. Officials from the Indian government said on its first day of service the route accommodated 70 204 passengers.
One more section of the East-West rail project remains to be completed. This section will go from Esplanade to Sealdah in Kolkata.
Fukui gets a bullet train
Japan’s Fukui prefecture, a five-hour rail journey from Tokyo, inaugurated its first bullet train on March 16. The bullet train, which can now travel on an extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen network, cuts the journey between Tokyo and Fukui down to one hour.
Inside Japan Tours has launched the 15-night Hidden Zen self-guided tour to celebrate the train. Travellers can experience the new bullet train through Fukui and its neighbouring prefecture, Ishikawa, with zen meditation activities and a stay in a farmhouse.
Ceres Rail revives Explorer’s Journey
Ceres Rail, a vintage steam train in Cape Town, will add a new itinerary, the Explorer’s Journey, offering trips from the V&A Waterfront to Simon’s Town via False Bay. On March 1, the train resumed this itinerary following a six-year hiatus.
The Explorer’s Journey itinerary departs from the railway station alongside the AC Hotel by Marriott in the harbour precinct at 09h00 before steaming out through the suburbs of Cape Town to deliver views of Table Mountain and Constantiaberg. The train then proceeds to the Muizenburg line, just metres away from the shoreline, and travels through Kalk Bay, Fish Hoek and Glencairn before arriving in Simon’s Town at 11h30. The return trip departs from Simon’s Town railway station at 15h00 and arrives at the Waterfront at 17h30.
The fares range from:
- Observation Car: R899 per seat
- Lounge: R799 per seat
- Day Sitter: R575 per adult, R500 per pensioner (60 and over) and R450 per child
Tickets are available on the Ceres Rail Company website.
