Amid joy, Queen of Deccan chugs into Mumbai

The Deccan Queen, one of India's premier trains, was back on its Pune-Mumbai route Monday, three days after a mob attack left it in ruins and thousands of daily commuters stranded. Popularly known as DQ, the heritage train, which carries 1,000-1,500 passengers daily, left Pune at 7.15 a.m. and reached Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus, formerly Victoria Terminus or VT, in Mumbai at 10.40 a.m. Hundreds of men and women celebrated DQ's resumption by exchanging sweets on the train. "The regular commuters, especially the season ticket holders, who occupy the two air conditioned chair cars and the ladies compartment, are emotionally attached to DQ," Kamal Chawan, a businessman who commutes daily, said. "Many good things have begun in this train, especially youngsters making successful proposals and getting married, businessmen striking deals, etc. Thus DQ has a special place in the heart of many," he said with a grin. Mohan Keskar, another quintessential train traveler, says: "It broke my heart when I saw an irate mob set the DQ on fire. We were told to get down and we saw it go up in flames.

"For the past 25 years I have been traveling in DQ and it has been my second home all these years. I have made scores of friends, sharing home-made breakfast with fellow travelers," he added. Famous for its on-board hot "breakfast, meals and snacks" service, the DQ makes a daily three-and-half-hour shuttle daily. It was launched July 1, 1929. The train leaves Mumbai at 5.10 p.m. and reaches Pune at 8.25 p.m. It has loyal clients who commute daily to work in Mumbai and come home to sleep in the comforts of their cozy homes in cool Pune due the train's punctuality. The train service was halted Nov 30 when vandals torched it at the UIhasnagar suburb near Mumbai following the alleged desecration of a statue of Dalit leader B.R. Ambedkar in Kanpur the previous day. The Central Railways incurred a loss of about Rs.50 million due to the gutting of six coaches. Also lost was Rs.150,000 on account of refund of tickets due to cancellation of the train service.

"We are extremely happy Deccan Queen has resumed service," Pune divisional railway manager P.K. Saxena said. The Central Railway had requisitioned 16-coach alternative rakes from Mumbai to restart the service, he said. The burning was only the second time the 77-year-old trained suffered extensive damage. Nine coaches of the train derailed at Khandala in July 1992 due to a loose bolt on the track at a tunnel. There were no casualties however. DQ was the first train to introduce a pantry car in the country. It was also the first to have an exclusive "special ladies compartment" and has figured in the Limca Book of Records for top quality amenities. A few years ago, the DQ received an ISO certification for quality management.

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