Mumbai: Deccan Queen’s revamped dining car brings Victorian-era luxury onboard

The revamped dining car channels vintage luxury with wood panels, warm lighting and a classic saloon-style layout inspired by iconic European trains. Pic/Ashish Raje

The iconic 95-year-old Deccan Queen has taken a leaf out of the Pullman and Orient Express playbook with its revamped dining car. Inspired by 19th-century luxury trains, the new dining coach features sofa-style seating, polished wood panelling and a classic dining saloon feel. Adorned with Warli paintings, sepia-toned frames and warm yellow lighting, it recreates the charm of Victorian-era rail travel. The Deccan Queen remains the only train in India with a dedicated dining car offering table service.

The Deccan Queen's dining car in its earlier avatar - functional but noticeably lacking old-world charm. Pic/By Special Arrangement

The Pullman and Orient Express were known for redefining train travel with plush seating, rich wood interiors and understated luxury, an experience the new dining car aims to echo. "The entire train has been refurbished," a Central Railway spokesperson said. Coach interiors have been redesigned with new panels and vibrant themes. Lavatories have been upgraded with modern fittings."

"It is a brand new train now, with a mix of culture, heritage and technology," he added. The makeover was launched as part of a ‘Train Mahotsav', which saw enthusiastic participation from passengers, railway officials and rail enthusiasts.

Voices

Vijay Sarwade, advocate
‘I have been travelling on this train for decades and have always been drawn to the dining car. The timings have been legendary. It is for this dining car that I take the train, and the new look is just out of the world'

Sandeep Ashok Chavan
‘I have been travelling on this train for ten years. It is one of the best connections between Mumbai and Pune and is known for its punctuality'