The Maharajah's Express, India

The Luxury Train Club is delighted to announce that the Maharajas' Express in India will begin operating in early 2010.

Train Chartering's Luxury Train Club arranges the private charter of luxury trains and the hire of private carriages.

The Maharajas' Express will cross state borders on ground-breaking themed journeys across India. This new train is a 21st-century version of the opulent 19th-century trains so beloved of the maharajahs.

The Maharajas' Express has 20 Deluxe Cabins, 18 Junior Suites, 4 Suites and the Grand Presidential Suite. The latter occupies a whole carriage, which is about 22 metres long (72') and will be a favourite with Luxury Train Club clients.

Every cabin has large panoramic windows, temperature controls, environmentally-friendly washrooms, security surveillance and air-cushioned suspension. State-of-the-art facilities include LCD televisions and DVD players.

The standard Deluxe Cabin is the world's most spacious rail cabin in its category - 2.87m x 2.36m (9'5" x 7'9") with a bathroom measuring 2.36m x 1.45m (7'9" x 4'9"). Junior Suites are 4.12m x 2.36m (13'6" x 7'9") whilst Suites are 6.30m x 2.36m (21'8" x 7'9"). There is a choice of twin or double beds for all cabin types.

Travellers socialise in the elegantly-appointed Bar carriage. The Observation coach is another social venue, with bar, games table and club armchairs. There are two dining cars, able to seat all passengers at a single sitting if required.

The Maharajas' Express opens up regions in India that are difficult for the traveller to experience in luxury by plane, by car or with current train services. As the first pan-India luxury train, it will cut across state borders, offering diverse and exciting itineraries that take travellers into the heart of another world.

Itineraries

The itineraries are more than just a journey - they encompass beautiful scenery with unique experiences en route. Examples include dining in the Maharaja of Bikaner's private hunting lodge, an elephant polo match, a riverboat trip on the holy Ganges for the sunrise in Varanasi. Itineraries are available both ways.

Example - Princely India (Mumbai - Delhi)

On this 8-night journey, the Maharajas' Express travels through the heart of 'royal' India from Mumbai via Vadodara, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Ranthambore National Park, the Taj Mahal in Agra and on to Delhi.

Example - Classical India (Delhi - Kolkata)

The 6-night experience is an odyssey into the heart of regional India, passing through areas that are difficult to get to without flying to and from Delhi. Starting in Delhi, the Maharajas' Express travels through Agra, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Bandhavgarh, Varanasi, Gaya and Kolkata.

Prices (USD, per person per day based on two passengers): Deluxe Cabin from $800; Junior Suite from $900; Suite from $1,400; Presidential Suite from $2,500. Prices include accommodation, all meals, soft drinks, house brands of wine, beer and spirits, all sightseeing, with entrance fees, guides and all entertainment. Also included: off-train excursions and events; visits to the main sites en route and all activities, including elephant polo and champagne breakfasts.

The Luxury Train Club is the concierge service for luxury train travel. The Club offers comprehensive guest and project management services for all private charter trains and private carriages. Our project directors are great communicators, both to clients and suppliers. They liaise with station staff and train crew. The Luxury Train Club also organises private waiting facilities at or near stations as well as other tailored catering, theming, and entertainment options, according to specific client requirements.

Train Chartering, the Luxury Train Club's parent, is the pioneer of a coordinated approach to sourcing, theming and crewing special trains and carriages for a variety of corporate and leisure applications; a full-service approach enhanced by comprehensive passenger management, ground handling and transfer services.