Indian Railways plans to introduce 3,000 new trains, targets zero waiting lists in coming 4-5 years

Digital Desk: Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw revealed on Thursday that the government is set to introduce approximately 3,000 new trains over the next four to five years. The move aims to bolster the railways' passenger capacity from the current 800 crore to an impressive 1,000 crore.

Minister Vaishnaw addressed the media at Rail Bhawan in the national capital, emphasizing the urgency of expanding railway capacity to accommodate the growing population. "We have to increase the capacity to 1,000 crore in four to five years as the population is growing," he said.

To achieve this ambitious target, the Railway Ministry plans to introduce 3,000 additional trains, making multiple trips to cater to the increased number of passengers. According to railway sources, the existing efforts, including the availability of 69,000 new coaches and the annual production of 5,000 new coaches, can contribute to adding 200 to 250 new trains each year. This is in addition to the 400 to 450 Vande Bharat trains scheduled to be added in the coming years.

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Minister Vaishnaw also highlighted the ministry's focus on decreasing travel time, a crucial aspect of enhancing passenger experience. The strategy involves improving the speed of trains and expanding the rail network. "It is important to minimize the time taken to accelerate and decelerate a long-route train," Vaishnaw emphasized, noting that optimizing acceleration and deceleration at curves, stations, and cautions can significantly reduce travel time.

As an example, he cited the Delhi-Kolkata route of the Rajdhani Express, stating that by improving acceleration and deceleration times, a saving of two hours and 20 minutes can be achieved from the current total travel time.

Vaishnaw pointed out that Vande Bharat trains demonstrate four times better acceleration and deceleration than other mail and express trains, leading to substantial time savings and better average speeds. While the introduction of Vande Bharat on all routes will take time, the ministry is exploring an intermediate solution: the push-pull configuration mode.

The push-pull configuration, to be introduced on all newly manufactured coaches, aims to double the acceleration and deceleration, resulting in significant time savings for long-distance trains.

In a bid to improve safety and convenience, Vaishnaw revealed that the ministry is working towards having trains with integrated 22 coaches rather than separate coaches attached together. This move, according to the minister, will offer multiple benefits to passengers, promoting safety and efficiency.

The minister outlined the significant infrastructure development underway, with approximately 5,000 km of tracks laid annually to enhance capacity. He also shared plans for the construction of flyovers and underpasses, with 1,000 such projects sanctioned. Last year witnessed the completion of 1,002 flyovers and underpasses, and this year the target has been set at 1,200.

In a groundbreaking move, the Railways Ministry has set an ambitious goal of eliminating waiting lists entirely within the next four to five years. Sources within the ministry disclosed a comprehensive plan to address the surging demand, particularly for general and sleeper-class coaches.

Recent data from April to October 2023 revealed a significant shift in passenger distribution, with non-AC coaches carrying 95.3% of the total passengers, signaling a preference for economical travel options. To meet this escalating demand, Indian Railways has significantly expanded its services, with an additional 562 trains now operational on a daily basis across the IR network.

This proactive approach not only addresses the current surge in demand but also sets the stage for a future where waiting lists become obsolete, ensuring a smoother and more efficient travel experience for millions of passengers. As Indian Railways steers toward these transformative changes, it seems poised to redefine the landscape of rail travel in the country.