Why in news:

• The Indian Railways has recently announced its plan to launch a new weekly Humsafar Superfast train from Rajasthan to Tamil Nadu.
• The train on its route will travel via Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, and Maharashtra.
• The Humsafar train from Rajasthan’s Ajmer to Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu is slated to begin from December 18. The first train returning from Rameshwaram will leave on December 21.

Key Points:

• As per the railways department’s announcement, Ajmer- Rameswaram Weekly Humsafar Superfast Express will run every Saturday at 8:10 PM from December 18 onwards.
• The train will reach Rameshwaram on Mondays at 9 PM.
• Similarly, on the reverse route ie Rameshwaram- Ajmer Humsafar will start operation from December 21 and will run every Tuesday at 10:30 PM. Completing its two-day journey, the train will reach Ajmer on Thursdays at 11:30 PM.
• En route, the train will navigate the Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Neemach, Mandsaur, Ratlam, Fathebad, Chandravatiganj, Laxmibai Nagar, Dewas Jn., Maksi Jn., Bhopal, Itarsi, Betul, Nagpur, Chandrapur, Ballarshah, Barangal, Vijayawada Jn., Nellore, Gudur Jn. , Chennai Egmore, Changalpattu Jn., Villupuram Jn., Aluva, Thrissurapally Jn. and Manmadhuri Junctions.
• The decision to introduce new trains from Rajasthan comes after the railways announced the resumption of regular operation after over one-and-a-half years.
• The regular operation remained suspended since the announcement of the first COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020.
• As the lockdown opened up, railways resumed operation but with several restrictions.
• During this period, many regular trains remained suspended and special trains were running. The decision marked the return of 1700 regular trains.
• The railways also allowed the service of cooked meals on the train which remained suspended due to COVID-19 precautions.
• The railways served packed meals on trains. However, a recent review showed there were not too many takers of these food items, and that the passengers preferred having cooked food.
• The review showed that only 7 to 10 passengers purchased ready meals whereas 40 to 70 per cent preferred cooked meals.
  
   

Humsafar Trains:

• Humsafar Express is a fully premium service with AC-3 Tier and Sleeper class accommodation having all the modern facilities designed and operated by Indian Railways.
• "Humsafar" is a Hindi word meaning "life partner" or "soulmate".
• The first service was inaugurated in December 2016 between Gorakhpur and Anand Vihar Terminal, New Delhi.