Indian Railways transports millions of passengers daily offering various classes with different levels of comfort. The AC coaches known for their premium services usually come with higher fares. Trains like Vande Bharat and Rajdhani Express are famous for their luxurious amenities making them expensive for the average traveler. However there is one fully AC train in India that offers affordable travel for the common man while providing comfort similar to premium trains. Known as the Garib Rath Express or the Poor Mans Rajdhani this train gives tough competition to the Vande Bharat Express with its budget-friendly fares. Running between Chennai and Delhi Hazrat Nizamuddin the Garib Rath Express offers AC coach tickets at just 68 paise per kilometer making it highly economical for long-distance travel. In terms of speed the Garib Rath Express is no slouch. While the Vande Bharat Express averages a speed of 66 to 96 km/h the Garib Rath runs at an average speed of 70 to 75 km/h making it nearly as fast as its premium counterpart. The Garib Rath was introduced with the purpose of allowing middle- and lower-income passengers to experience the comfort of AC travel without having to pay exorbitant fares. With its affordable pricing and decent speed this train has become a popular choice for budget travelers seeking comfort and value. Garib Rath Express Routes The Garib Rath Express was introduced in 2006 to provide affordable AC travel for middle- and lower-income passengers. The train’s first-ever service ran between Saharsa (Bihar) and Amritsar (Punjab) marking the beginning of a revolutionary service in Indian Railways. Today the Garib Rath operates on 26 different routes connecting major cities such as Delhi-Mumbai Delhi-Chennai and Patna-Kolkata. Its affordable pricing and comfortable AC coaches have made it a popular choice among travelers. Garib Rath vs. Rajdhani Express: Cost Comparison When traveling on the Chennai–Delhi route both the Garib Rath Express and the Rajdhani Express cover the distance in approximately 28 hours and 15 minutes offering a similar travel time. However the major difference lies in the fare structure. For a third AC ticket the Rajdhani Express charges around Rs. 4210 whereas the Garib Rath costs only Rs. 1500—making it nearly three times cheaper. When broken down per kilometer the Garib Rath charges just 68 paise offering air-conditioned travel at an incredibly low cost.