Railways to introduce train named after Mother Teresa

The Indian Railways plans to launch a train named after Mother Teresa to mark the birth centenary of the humanitarian icon.

The new train, Mother Express, will be introduced on August 26, the 100th birth anniversary of Mother Teresa.

"We have decided to launch the new train after Mother Teresa as a tribute to her on occasion of her birth centenary," said Mamata Banerjee, the federal railway minister.

Banerjee said the coaches of the train would be painted in blue, the trademark border of the dress worn by the order she founded.

The route of the train would be announced later, but it would touch important destinations in the country, Press Trust of India quoted her saying.

The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) has welcomed the decision of the Indian Railways to introduce a train in tribute of Mother Teresa.

Mother Teresa was born on 26 August 1910, in Skopje, Macedonia, to Albanian heritage.

For over 45 years the Catholic nun ministered to the poor, sick, orphaned, and dying in India, for which she won a Noble Peace Prize in 1979.

A slew of programmes have been planned to mark the birth centenary of Mother Teresa this month.

Also, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has announced to release a stamp with the humanitarian icon's picture.

The stamp features a portrait of Mother Teresa painted by award-winning artist Thomas Blackshear II of Colorado Springs. The stamp will be released on August 26.

Earlier in 1997, the United States awarded Mother Teresa with the Congressional Gold Medal for her "outstanding and enduring contributions through humanitarian and charitable activities."