Mumbai-Goa Tejas Express returns with broken LCD screens and headphones stolen

The first high-speed luxury train between Mumbai and Goa, the Tejas Express, flagged off from Mumbai with much fanfare, returned with fewer headphones, damaged infotainment screens and waste strewn all over, showing the country is not ready for cleaner and comfortable train travel yet.

The train was flagged off from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus on Monday and returned from Goa on Tuesday.

The Mumbai-Goa Tejas Express that returned to Mumbai on Tuesday had one of its LCD screens smashed, headphones stelen and the entire train littered, giving a shock to the railway authorities.

Capable of running at the speed of 200 kmph, the Tejas Express has several unique features such as automatic doors, 9-inch infotainment screens for each seat, tea-coffee vending machines, vaccuum bio-toilets, touch-free water taps in toilet and secured gangway, but sadly lacks the right kind of passengers.

Railway authorities have now appealed to passengers to safeguard the Tejas Express and treat it like their own property.

Central Railway's chief public relations officer Narendra Patil confirmed the railway staff reported that ''a few headphones'' were missing from the train after Monday's journey, according to a report in the Mumbai Mirror.

Although the railway officials had anticipated some mischief, the extent of damage was unanticipated.

At least 12 of the high-quality headphones provided for the infotainment screens are missing, said railway sources. Some screens were found scratched.

A passenger, who travelled on the train the second day, said the train was not properly cleaned. ''Toilets too were unclean. Attendants were ignorant. The food was not as good as during the inaugural run,'' he said.

A journey from Mumbai to Karmali AC chair-car seat on the train costs Rs1,190, while executive chair-car seat costs Rs 2,590

A journey from Mumbai to Ratnagiri on AC chair car seat costs Rs835, while executive seat costs Rs1,785.

The train will run on the Mumbai-Goa route five days of the week- Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday- during the non-monsoon period. The train will leave from Mumbai at 5am and reach Goa at 1.30pm. The train will start from Goa at 2.30pm and reach Mumbai at 11pm.

During the monsoon - between June 10 and October 31 - it will be operated thrice in a week- Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.