The Deccan Odyssey is the latest luxury passenger train being rolled out. A joint venture of the Indian Railways and the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), Deccan Odyssey is expected to be a huge success as there has been demand for such a facility by foreign tourists. Built by the Integral Coach Factory at Perambur in Tamil Nadu, the Deccan Odyssey is modeled on the Palace on Wheels, which has gained iconic status for Rajasthan tourism. But the former is perhaps one notch higher on the luxury scale.

Costing around Rs 30 crore, the train will be operated by the Railways, but the MTDC will be in charge of hospitality. The MTDC will be responsible for on-board catering, sight-seeing, provision of staff, interiors, marketing and even booking packages. A single-occupancy suite in the train during the peak season (October-March) will leave one poorer by $480, while a triple-occupancy suite will cost $285. The Deccan Odyssey, which will complete its journey in a week, will accommodate 80 passengers. Its 21 blue coaches wear the "Maharaja" look, replete with suites, gyms, two restaurants and conference facilities.The gymnasium, yoga and health car will be part of the train that will also have a spa and massage center.

The bar, restaurants and conference hall is meant for corporates to have their board meetings on board the train. This apart, the train will also have television sets in each of the suite and cabin cars, six-channel music system, comfortable beds, mobile telephone communication through satellite and internet surfing.

`Deccan Odyssey' is only the eighth such luxury train available in the world; others run in US, Australia, South Africa, Scotland and back home in the shape of the `Palace On Wheels' in Rajasthan and the `Royal Orient' in Gujarat.

The Deccan Odyssey has already had a flag-off by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee this January. Dubbed the "five star hotel on rails", it will traverse 2,200 km, spanning the Konkan coast, the Deccan plateau and Goa in early February. Passengers will be treated to an unparalleled view of the Deccan plateau and the golden beaches with swaying coconut palms along the Konkan coast. An Italian group has already booked the entire train for its inaugural run in February.