irrespective of the above article, i think that Indian Railways is an ill-managed organisation which should get its act together if India has to keep up the development...

GPS-based screens on local trains likely

Stung by frequent complaints made by passengers about the poor functioning of railways announcing system, the Railways has decided to further improve it by installing GPS-based screens on each local train. The railways has planned an enhanced version of such device for local trains.

According to a Railway Board official, the Research Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO) has started trial of the new device on the pattern of Delhi Metro trains. If it is successful, the railways would implement it on priority basis in local trains across the country, he said adding the new system would facilitate local commuters most.

According to RDSO director SK Srivastava, railways has been consulting several other agencies which are competent in designing and developing such a device. The trial conducted so far by RDSO has been fruitful in the sense that the GPS-based device fitted in local trains was able to locate stations either coming or passing, he said.

Besides, railways has made a proposal to install Light Emitting Diode (LED) screens inside local trains, similar to those fitted in BEST buses in Mumbai. The LED screens could also display advertisements of commercial products yielding revenue to the railways, a Board official said.

According to Danapur rail division PRO R K Singh, railways has been running several pairs of local trains, including MEMU and DEMU, on different routes of Danapur division under East Central Railway ( ECR ). However, the mainline from Mughalsarai to Jhajha has been facing acute constrains due to constant run of mail and local trains, he said adding the GPS-based facility on local trains would prove to be a boon for the common people while undertaking journey by crowded local passenger trains. TNN

Green signal for express train through Talcher station soon

The Indian Railway authorities are likely to run an Express train through the Talcher station. State Commerce & Transport Principal Secretary Gagan Kumar Dhal is reported to have impressed upon the authorities to let Howrah-Sambalpur Express run via the station.

Dhal held talks with Khurda Road Divisional Railway Manager Sanjiv Garg and other top officials of the ECoR in this regard on Monday after a marathon meeting with the agitators of Talcher. The agitators are on an indefinite rail blockade under the banner of the Talcher Rail Users Coordination Committee, which entered its fifth day. The stir has stopped coal transportation, for which production in the units of the PSUs like NTPC and Nalco has been badly hit.

The TRUCC demands that all Express and Passenger trains running along the Angul route have a stoppage at the Talcher railway station. It demands stoppage of 11 Express trains, including Howrah- Sambalpur Express, Bhubaneswar-Balangir Express, Bhubaneswar-Lokmany Tilak Express, Puri-Valsad Express, Bhubaneswar-Rourkela Intercity, Puri-Sambalpur Intercity Express, Bhubaneswar-Raipur Intercity, Bhubaneswar-Ranchi Garib Rath Express and Puri-Jodhpur Express at Talcher.

The agitators further want that the trains that are to be introduced in the future should also stop at Talcher. “Though this station generates the highest revenue in the country — more than `1,500 crore per annum, it is neglected by the authorities,” TRUCC convener Kandarpa Sahu said. Dhal asked the ECoR authorities to take up the issue with the Railway Board and ensure running of Howrah-Sambalpur Express through the Talcher station immediately.

It may be pointed out that about 26 coal rakes go out of Talcher to various parts of the State and outside it. The railways reportedly earn `5 crore daily from the coal freight operations. Three passenger and four express trains running through Talcher have been cancelled by the Railways in view of the agitation, which is also strongly backed by local BJD MP Tathagata Satpathy.

Satpathy, a Government Chief whip in the State Assembly Rabi Narayan Pani and Talcher MLA Braja Kishore Pradhan, with TRUCC leaders attended the meeting called by Dhal. IG Railways, Pradip Kapoor, Special Secretary Rail Coordination Guru P Ray and Angul Collector DV Swamy and SP Satyabrat Bhoi were present. The Pioneer

Utilisation of Overhead Electric Power for Air-conditioning

Energy conservation, usages of clean fuel and economy in expenditure on fuel are important concerns for the Indian Railways.Another important step in this direction is the implementation of Head-on-Generation system for trains.

The requirement of power for train lighting and air conditioning of passenger coaches over Indian Railways is being made from 3 different systems namely Self-Generation System, End-on-Generation system and Head-on-Generation system.

Railway Board have constituted a committee on operations of trains with Head-on Generation system for utilizing the Overhead power (traction power) for train lighting and air conditioning systems of passenger trains.

To implement the Railway Board’s direction, one 3 phase electric loco No.30277 has been built by CLW with auxiliary winding of the transformer (1000 KVA).This loco is also equipped with converter for converting 750V single phase AC power to 750V, 3 phase AC power for utilization in train lighting and air conditioning system through inter vehicle coupler.

Implementation of Head-on-generation (HOG) for hotel load scheme where loco has been equipped with auxiliary winding and converter also required modification in power cars and passenger coaches.

The modification as suggested by Railway Board/RDSO has been implemented in 17 LHB coaches and two power cars over Delhi Division.The extensive trail have been conducted for running of HOG scheme over Delhi Division with this locomotive and modified coaches/power cars.
After extensive trials and improvements on the design, commercial service of HOG scheme involving one 3 phase electric, loco and 12 passenger coaches and two power cars have been started from 21.2.2011 between New Delhi-Kalka and back in train No.12005/06 New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express.In this scheme the power supply is received directly from locomotive through couplers and DG sets kept off to be used during emergency only.The supply from locomotive is 750V, 3 phase through IV coupler to the coaches.The advantages of this scheme are – no noise (DG sets will not be used), Saving of HSD oil (about 700 ltrs. Per round trip), economical (saving of about 18,000.00 per round trip) and pollution free environment at Railway stations etc. (no smoke as DG sets will not be used.)

Presently this system will be in operation on train No.12005/06 New Delhi Kalka Shatabdi Express.Three more rakes have been planned for conversion with this scheme and may take around one year for introduction.

sara bengal baki kangal :bash:

Ananth Kumar - MP

Railway Budget 2011-12: No hike in passenger fare and freight rates
TRAVELBIZMONITOR (http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/railway-budget-201112-no-hike-in-passenger-fare-and-freight-rates-12766)

According to a PIB release, no hike in the passenger fare and freight rate has been proposed in the Railway Budget 2011-12. The Budget with highest ever plan outlay of Rs 57,630 crore will have Rs 9,583 crore for new railway lines and significant funds for passenger amenities. Presenting the Railway Budget in the Parliament today the Minister for Railways, Mamata Banerjee, announced a number of new initiatives including expansion of railway network, modernisation of safety and security and welfare of railway employees.

Proposing highest ever plan outlay of Rs 57,630 crore the Railway Minister said that it will be financed through Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) of Rs 20,000 crore, diesel cess of Rs 1,041 crore, internal resources of Rs 14,219 crore and market borrowings of Rs 20,594 crore. She said that external source of financing through Public Private Partnership (PPP), Wagon Investment Scheme (WIS) etc is expected to yield Rs. 1,776 crore.

Reiterating her commitment to the expansion of the rail network, the Minister of Railways proposed an allocation of Rs 9,583 crore for new lines, Rs 5,406 crore for doubling the lines and Rs 2,470 crore for gauge conversion projects. To overcome shortages in wagons, coaches and locomotives, Rs 13,820 crore has been earmarked for acquisition of rolling stock. She proposed introduction of 56 new Express Trains, three new Shatabdis and nine new Duronto Trains during 2011-12 namely: Allahabad-Mumbai AC Duronto (bi-weekly); Pune-Ahmedabad AC Duronto (tri-weekly); Sealdah-Puri non AC Duronto (tri-weekly); Secunderabad-Visakhapatnam AC Duronto (tri-weekly); Madurai-Chennai AC Duronto (bi-weekly); Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram AC Duronto (bi-weekly); Mumbai Central-New Delhi AC Duronto (bi-weekly); Nizamuddin-Ajmer non-AC Duronto (bi-weekly); Shalimar-Patna Duronto (tri-weekly).

The frequency of following Duronto Trains have also been increased namely: Mumbai CST-Howrah Duronto Express from 2 days to 4 days; Mumbai-Ahmedabad Duronto Express from 3 days to daily; Sealdah-New Delhi Duronto Express from 2 days to 5 days; Nagpur-Mumbai CST Duronto Express from 3 days to daily; Howrah-Yesvantpur Duronto Express from 4 days to 5 days.

Besides this, 47 additional suburban services in Mumbai and 50 new suburban services for Kolkata has also been proposed. AC double-decker services will be introduced on Jaipur-Delhi and Ahmedabad-Mumbai. Services of 33 trains will be extended while frequency of 17 trains will be extended. 107 new line surveys will also be taken up during the year.

The Minister proposed extension of concessions for physically handicapped persons in Rajadhani and Shatabdi Trains. Now Press correspondents will also be entitled to avail 50 per cent concession with family twice in a year instead once in a year. Presently, concession for senior citizens is extended to both men and women at 60 years of age, the Railway Minister proposed to reduce the age to 58 years in the case of women, besides increasing senior citizens concession from 30 per cent to 40 per cent.

Declaring that one of the main objectives of her Ministry is to bring social revolution to rail connectivity, the Railway Minister proposed a non-lapsable fund for socially desirable projects under the name of ‘Pradhan Mantri Rail Vikas Yojana’. She also proposed an increase of Rs 771 crore to connect the underdeveloped areas of Orissa, Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Bihar and Maharashtra through rail network. A non-lapsable Fund for Railway projects in the northeast region has also been proposed and all the state capitals of the region except Sikkim will be connected by railway network in the next seven years.

Stating that safety is the first priority of the Railways, the Railway Minister said that Anti Collision device (ACD) will be deployed on more routes, now it will cover eight zonal railways. Expressing concern over loss of rail properties during various agitations in recent past, she announced that the States which will ensure trouble-free train running for the whole year will be awarded with two new trains and two projects as a special package.

Highlighting the efforts being made to improve amenities and to provide better experience to the passengers at stations the Minister said that 236 more stations will be upgraded as Adarsh Stations. A Multi-purpose pan-India smart card ‘Go India’ will be introduced soon to provide single window package for seamlessly pay for tickets for long distance, suburban, metro travelling. The passengers can use this card at booking counters, vending machines, internet etc. Besides this a new portal for e-ticketing will be launched shortly. Booking of tickets through this portal will be cheaper with a charge of only Rs ten for AC classes and Rs five for others. The Minister also proposed a new Super AC class of travel with improved comfort and features and more exclusively. A feasibility study would be undertaken to increase the speed of passenger trains to 160-200 kmph with the help from Japan.

Highlights of Railway Budget 2011-12 at a Glance:

* No hike in passenger fare and freight rates.
* Highest ever Plan outlay of Rs 57, 630 crore proposed for Railways.
* Rs 9,583 crore provided for new lines.
* 1300 kms new lines, 867 km doubling of lines and 1017 km gauge conversion targeted in 2011-12.
* 56 new Express Trains, three new Shatabdis and nine Duronto trains to be introduced.
* AC Double Decker services on Jaipur-Delhi and Ahmedabad-Mumbai routes.
* New Super AC Class to be introduced.
* A new portal for e-ticketing to be launched shortly. Booking charges will be cheaper with a charge of only Rs ten for AC classes and Rs five for others.
* Pan-India multi-purpose smart card ‘Go India’ to be introduced.
* 236 more stations to be upgraded as Adarsh Stations.
* 47 additional suburban services in Mumbai and 50 new suburban services proposed for Kolkata.
* Two new passenger terminals in Kerala and one each in Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal proposed.
* Feasibility study to raise speed of passenger trains to 160-200 kmph to be undertaken.
* A special package of two new trains and two projects for the States managing trouble free run of trains through out the year.
* Anti Collision Devise (ACD) sanctioned to cover eight zonal railways.
* GPS Based ‘Fog Safe’ Device to be deployed.
* All unmanned level crossing up to 3000 to be eliminated.
* All India Security Help line on a single number set up.
* All state capitals in the North-East except Sikkim to be connected by Rail in next seven years.
* A Bridge Factory in Jammu & Kashmir and a state-of-art Institute for Tunnel and Bridge Engineering is proposed at Jammu.
* A Diesel Locomotive Centre will be set-up in Manipur.
* A Centre of Excellence in Software at Darjeeling proposed under the aegis of CRIS.
* Rail Industrial Parks at Jellingham and New Bongaigaon proposed.
* Additional mechanised laundry units to be set up at Nagpur, Chandhigarh and Bhopal.
* 700 MW gas-based power plant to be set up at Thakurli in Maharashtra.
* 18,000 Wagons to be procured during 2011-12.
* A scheme for socially desirable projects, ‘Pradhan Mantri Rail Vikas Yojana’ with Non-lapsable fund proposed.
* 10,000 shelter units proposed for track side dwellers in Mumbai, Sealdah, Siliguri, Tiruchirapalli on pilot basis.
* Concession to physically handicapped persons to be extended on Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains.
* Concession of 50 per cent to press correspondents with family increased to twice a year.
* Senior Citizens concession to be hiked from 30 per cent to 40 per cent.
* Medical facilities extended to dependent parents of the Railway employees.
* Scholarship for Girl child of Group-D railway employees increased to Rs 1200 per month.
* 20 additional hostels for children of railway employees to be set up.
* Recruitment for 1.75 lakh vacancies of Group ‘C’ and ‘D’ including to fill up backlog of SC/ST initiated, 16,000 ex-servicemen to be inducted by March 2011.
* A separate sports cadre to be created.
* 2011-12 declared ‘Year of Green Energy’ for Railways.
* Freight loading of 993 MT and passenger growth of 6.4 per cent estimated for 2011-12.
* Gross Traffic Receipts at Rs 1, 06,239 crore, exceeding one lakh crore mark for the first time estimated.
* Ordinary Working Expenses assessed at Rs 73,650 crore.

sara bengal baki kangal :bash:

Ananth Kumar - MP


Well I dont want to start a quarrel but if U go through the rly budget properly factories trains have been proposed for assam,j and k etc etc .
Infact one of the minister of state(rlys) is from south India , so South India's interests are also preserved.

Lastly wats wrong in developing one's own state ?? if madhav Rao Scindia , LALU p yadav , nitish Kr could do it , why is Mamata Banerjee being blamed ??:nuts:

^^u forgot Ram vilas Paswan!! He served as RM after Nitishji and before Lalu Yadav.
Btw, Nitish Kumar was not so Bihar centric, it was all started with Paswan!

^^u forgot Ram vilas Paswan!! He served as RM after Nitishji and before Lalu Yadav.
Btw, Nitish Kumar was not so Bihar centric, it was all started with Paswan!

oops sorry I forgot Paswan and unknowingly labled him as nitish kumar.
U are absolutely correct . As a rly minister Lalu and Paswan literally dried up the rlys . and bengal got nothing from them ......... MB is much more national minded than these fellows like Lalu and Paswan.

no mention of high speed rail :(

.

INDIAN RAILWAYS YEAR BOOK 2009 - 2010 (http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/Stat_0910/Year%20Book%202009-10-Sml_size_English.pdf)

Cheers :cheers:

Well I dont want to start a quarrel but if U go through the rly budget properly factories trains have been proposed for assam,j and k etc etc .
Infact one of the minister of state(rlys) is from south India , so South India's interests are also preserved.

Lastly wats wrong in developing one's own state ?? if madhav Rao Scindia , LALU p yadav , nitish Kr could do it , why is Mamata Banerjee being blamed ??:nuts:
:ohno: Nothing wrong with developing one's state. But not at the expense of others. She can develop WB all she wants when she becomes CM later this year. But till then she is the railway minister of INDIA not bengal. And that she has to look at the well being of all the parts of India, not just her constituencies. Sure Lalu and Nitish did show regional bias (dont know abt Madhavrao Scindia). But then if this trend is allowed to be continued the railways and maybe the nation are doomed.

no mention of high speed rail :(

A little too expensive for us at this time. Also foresight is lacking:bash:

Highlights of Railway Budget 2011-12 at a Glance:

* No hike in passenger fare and freight rates.
* Highest ever Plan outlay of Rs 57, 630 crore proposed for Railways.
* Rs 9,583 crore provided for new lines.
* 1300 kms new lines, 867 km doubling of lines and 1017 km gauge conversion targeted in 2011-12.
* 56 new Express Trains, three new Shatabdis and nine Duronto trains to be introduced.
* AC Double Decker services on Jaipur-Delhi and Ahmedabad-Mumbai routes.
* New Super AC Class to be introduced.


Any one have any what this "New Super AC Class" is suppposed to be????:lol:

:ohno: Nothing wrong with developing one's state. But not at the expense of others. She can develop WB all she wants when she becomes CM later this year. But till then she is the railway minister of INDIA not bengal. And that she has to look at the well being of all the parts of India, not just her constituencies. Sure Lalu and Nitish did show regional bias (dont know abt Madhavrao Scindia). But then if this trend is allowed to be continued the railways and maybe the nation are doomed.

she has projects for jammu and kashmir,assam etc etc . Even trains originating from Howrah but terminating at say mumbai,delhi etc etc will pass through other states , is this not development of other states ??

Even trains originating from Howrah but terminating at say mumbai,delhi etc etc will pass through other states , is this not development of other states ??
But the common part of these is that they originate in howrah. They are meant first for the convenience of people in Bengal. And of what abt other routes like Mumbai-Pune-Bangalore or Mumbai-Pune-Chennai or Chennai-Hyderabad, or Bangalore -Hyderabad.
Even when the Double decker AC train was planned it was done from Kolkata to Dhanbad when there are other routes where such a service is badly needed.
This is what Lalu did too. And he presented the same argument "train passes through other states".
Argue as much as you like but the fact remains that Mamta has exploited the railways to feed her votebank. And you being a fellow bengali are defending her.

no mention of high speed rail :(
It is called golden rail corridor this time :lol: but this time very realistic goal of 160-200 kmph speed target.

Golden rail corridor study
Chittaranjan Tembhekar, TNN, Feb 26, 2011, 02.43am IST
MUMBAI: Ahmedabad may soon be only three-and-a-half hours from Mumbai and Kolkata less than half a day away. The Railway ministry will rope in Japanese experts to study the feasibility of a special 'golden rail corridor', with passenger trains running at 160-200 km per hour.


Railway minister Mamata Banerjee said the pre-feasibility study for the western leg of the corridor, between Delhi and Mumbai, would start early next fiscal. Countries like China have already brought cities closer with trains running at over 360 km per hour and magnetic levitation trains (Maglev).


"Similar studies will be initiated for other corridors including Ahmedabad-Mumbai, Mumbai-Kolkata," she said, adding Indian Railways plans to take the efficiency of trains to the next level. The Maharashtra government has already put its Mumbai-Nagpur Maglev train project, which promises to cover the 800 km distance within three hours, on the backburner.

Read more: Golden rail corridor study - The Times of India http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Golden-rail-corridor-study/articleshow/7577662.cms#ixzz1F2I3EnQd

And of what abt other routes like Mumbai-Pune-Bangalore or Mumbai-Pune-Chennai or Chennai-Hyderabad, or Bangalore -Hyderabad.


have you read the budget?

But the common part of these is that they originate in howrah. They are meant first for the convenience of people in Bengal. And of what abt other routes like Mumbai-Pune-Bangalore or Mumbai-Pune-Chennai or Chennai-Hyderabad, or Bangalore -Hyderabad.
Even when the Double decker AC train was planned it was done from Kolkata to Dhanbad when there are other routes where such a service is badly needed.
This is what Lalu did too. And he presented the same argument "train passes through other states".
Argue as much as you like but the fact remains that Mamta has exploited the railways to feed her votebank. And you being a fellow bengali are defending her.

Bengal is not the only state that got more than the usual share this time. MH, AP, RJ etc. also got a good budget.

Any one have any what this "New Super AC Class" is suppposed to be????:lol:

No details yet, but it will be an elite class, to be positioned above 1st AC, with high level of comfort and features. This is being done as the AC1 class has been showing good figures for some time now.

BTW I believe a majority of AC1 occupancy is by politicians, sarkari big babu's, armed forces officers, etc. whose cost of travel is actually being borne by us tax payers, and not much of them are actual privately paying passengers. So IMO, this Super AC or shall we call it 'AC0' class is not really of much use.

Let's see what this 'AC0' class will be offering. BTW, one this is almost for sure....we can expect to see this class introduced in a Rajdhani first, and guess which route? ... well definitely the Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani!

The full text of the Railway Budget speech can be accessed from MOR website. Click here (http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/view_section.jsp?id=0,1,304,366,539).

A direct link to the pdf of the speech can be accessed here (http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/finance_budget/RailBudget_11-12/RailBudget_2011-12.pdf).

Excerpts from didi's budget speech ....

"19. Northeast is our priority area and receives government’s full support. Imphal, the capital of Manipur will soon be connected to the railway network. I have planned in advance. Therefore, I propose to set up a diesel locomotive centre in Manipur."

Noteworthy indeed to have railway related developments in the NE! Though I wonder what this center would really be about?!

If, like me, some of you were thinking what exactly the proposed Railway Industrial park will be all about, here it is.....

23. Madam, I am happy to announce setting up of a “Rail Industrial Park” at Jellingham. This Park will be a cluster of diverse industrial units whose output will be consumed by the railways. The Park will initially focus on high volume safety and vital components. With this, we shall make a beginning towards creating a global hub in India for the railway industry. A unit to manufacture car steel bogies and couplers through a joint venture between Burn Standard Co. Ltd. and SAIL has already been initiated in this Park. I also propose to set up a Rail Industrial Park at New Bongaigaon.

28. Madam Speaker, we had added only 10,677 km of new lines since independence. I had announced an ambitious target of 1,000 km of new lines in 2010-11. This is in contrast to average addition of 180 km annually. In the current year, we may do over 700 km, falling short of the target. But this would be almost double of the highest ever performance in any single year. Unless we set our targets high, we cannot realize the goals of Vision 2020. The hon’ble members will be happy to know that railways will be achieving its target of 800 km for gauge conversion, 700 km for doubling and 1,000 km of electrification.

Very noble thoughts, though seriously does Railways have the necessary funds available to complete even half the target?!

Excerpts from didi's budget speech ....

"19. Northeast is our priority area and receives government’s full support. Imphal, the capital of Manipur will soon be connected to the railway network. I have planned in advance. Therefore, I propose to set up a diesel locomotive centre in Manipur."

Noteworthy indeed to have railway related developments in the NE! Though I wonder what this center would really be about?!

More notable news regarding expanding railways in NE:

A non-lapsable Fund for railway projects in the northeast region has been created that will boost the progress of projects. All the state capitals of this region except Sikkim will get connected by rail network in the next seven years.

But the common part of these is that they originate in howrah. They are meant first for the convenience of people in Bengal. And of what abt other routes like Mumbai-Pune-Bangalore or Mumbai-Pune-Chennai or Chennai-Hyderabad, or Bangalore -Hyderabad.
Even when the Double decker AC train was planned it was done from Kolkata to Dhanbad when there are other routes where such a service is badly needed.
This is what Lalu did too. And he presented the same argument "train passes through other states".
Argue as much as you like but the fact remains that Mamta has exploited the railways to feed her votebank. And you being a fellow bengali are defending her.



Just a request .Please stop posting regionalistic personally attacking comments .

The Anti Collision collision device will be implemented in Eastern rly and South eastern Rly which not only covers WB but also states like Bihar,Jharkhand,Orissa,AP etc etc.

Any body knows what exactly this GPS based ‘Fog Safe’ device is ?

42. A GPS based ‘Fog Safe’ device has been deployed and I am happy to report that this year railways have handled the foggy weather without any untoward incident.

I think this is quite an innovative approach taken by ministry!

44. As law and order is the responsibility of the state governments, railways are mostly helpless in handling such situations. We cannot ensure efficient and punctual operations of trains without the help of state governments. Some states do help, some states are helpless.
...
We want cooperation from all concerned. Those who help us, we will also help them.
45. I am now making an offer that whichever state ensures trouble-free train running for the whole year, shall be given two new trains and two projects as a special package.

Just a request .Please stop posting regionalistic personally attacking comments .

The Anti Collision collision device will be implemented in Eastern rly and South eastern Rly which not only covers WB but also states like Bihar,Jharkhand,Orissa,AP etc etc.

My apologies if I hurt your feelings!!! I just got carried away with the moment. After going through the budget it does seem to be a decent one.

However, it seems like in recent years ( 10-20 yrs) significant amount of the railway budget was devoted to personal votebanks. And I feel that mentality followed by some railway ministers was detrimental to general wellbeing of the railways and the country.
Though Mamta has not been nearly as arrogant as Lalu or as opportunistic as Paswan in their RM avatars, I still get the feeling she has an eye on the WB assembly elections and wants to make the most of the RM post to achieve that goal.
I leave it to the rest of us to decide if that is an acceptable mindset for the long term.

^^
very much acceptable to dethrone left govt entrenched for 30 years. that would be good for democracy in world level.

^^
very much acceptable to dethrone left govt entrenched for 30 years. that would be good for democracy in world level.

Agree, but not in this form. The Bihar based RM's favored Bihar for years on, and over years I guess it did help in some way in lifting up the state. So inspite of what the intention of Mamata is behind favoring WB (vote banks), if it is not for a prolonged duration, and indeed helps the state develop more due to the introduction of all these factories/plants/centres/etc., on a short term basis I do not see much harm in it.

Just my own 2 cents on this topic :)

PS: I'm not from WB in case someone disagrees with my point here an assumes I'm from there.

My apologies if I hurt your feelings!!! I just got carried away with the moment. After going through the budget it does seem to be a decent one.

However, it seems like in recent years ( 10-20 yrs) significant amount of the railway budget was devoted to personal votebanks. And I feel that mentality followed by some railway ministers was detrimental to general wellbeing of the railways and the country.
Though Mamta has not been nearly as arrogant as Lalu or as opportunistic as Paswan in their RM avatars, I still get the feeling she has an eye on the WB assembly elections and wants to make the most of the RM post to achieve that goal.
I leave it to the rest of us to decide if that is an acceptable mindset for the long term.


Doesnt matter dear . I too got carried away , so sorry for that too :)

Yaa U are right , she does have an eye on WB assembly polls . I am also not denying it , but the fact is that other states have also benefitted. As U have gone thru the budget U will know that 3 Shatabdis have been provided for other states not WB .

hmm... I guess in its own weird way this railway ministry thing works.. but its not doing any favors for the railway's finances!!

Modernisation policy to be finalised in 4 months: Railway Ministry
flashnewstoday (http://flashnewstoday.com/index.php/modernisation-policy-to-be-finalised-in-4-months-railway-ministry/)

http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/5023/muniyappa.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/muniyappa.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

Railway Ministry expected to finalise its policy on modernisation of railway stations in four months to bring their standard to international level, Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniyappa said on Saturday.

The project envisaging upgradation of some of the railway stations could not be taken up for various reasons, including massive cost involved, he told reporters here. He said the railways was working out on how to ensure return on such investments. Mr. Muniyappa said his Ministry was contemplating taking up Bangalore-Chennai Golden Rail Corridor project with foreign assistance.

Under the project, the railways plan to run super fast trains with about 160 km to 200 km speed per hour to reduce the travelling time between these two cities, he said. He said there were also plans to implement a dedicated freight corridor project in South.

Mr. Muniyappa outlined the railway projects sanctioned to Karnataka, his home State, and said the work on these projects would commence as soon as the State government provided the required land. “Land is the main constraint. There is no problem with money. The State government has been providing funds on cost sharing basis”, Mr. Muniyappa said.

Down the populist track again

February 27, 2011:
The Rail Budget for 2011-12 confirmed what many had feared: frozen fares and a slew of projects. But then, the Railways Minister, Ms Mamata Banerjee, cannot be faulted on this score. This was the eighth successive Rail Budget that did not touch fares. The Minister's predecessors did the same thing: playing to the gallery.

This is presumably because the Railways in our country are perceived not merely as a transporter of goods and passengers and provider of services, but also as a vehicle for social change.

The railway network hauls over 22 million passengers and more than two million tonnes of freight traffic everyday. It is the country's biggest public utility, employing 1.4 million people.

The Railways, therefore, is often found straying into “socially important” areas which do not fall strictly within its core activities. Infrastructure-wise, it is supposed to be the country's backbone but, in reality, it is one of the weakest spots.

One would, therefore, expect the Railways Minister to stop announcing new projects and ensure, instead, that projects in the pipeline are executed. But that never happens. Political priorities, as always, set the agenda.

FREIGHT OVERLOOKED
Freight accounts for an estimated 65 per cent of the total earnings of the Railways but there is no proposal to hike freight rates in 2011-12, presumably because such hikes will be announced outside the Budget. This often happens, if past experience is any guide.

For example, only a few weeks ago, the classification of food-grains and fertilisers was changed, and an additional surcharge on iron ore slapped to mop up additional revenue. So far in the current year, there have been at least six announcements on freight hike outside budget.

But more important is the volume of freight traffic. In 2010-11, it is estimated that the volume of freight traffic will fall short of the targeted 944 million tonnes (mt) by 20 mt. At the same time, the target for 2011-12 has been set at 993 mt, projecting 7.4 per cent growth.

If the country's economy is projected to grow at 8-9 per cent, the freight transport sector to support such growth should grow at least at 11-12 per cent. In the absence of such growth, the Railways stands to lose further its share of traffic to the road transport sector.

How the targeted 993 mt will be achieved is not clear. In 2010-11, the ban on iron ore exports from Karnataka led to a reduction in the volume of freight traffic handled by the Railways. What is the guarantee that Orissa, the biggest iron ore producing State, too will not take a similar decision in 2011-12?

The State has already stipulated several conditions on rake loading of the ore, causing concern to the area's zonal railway. Next, freight trains get low priority vis-à-vis passenger trains.

The line capacity is not increasing but the number of new passenger trains, including the fast-running Duronto trains, is steadily rising. Which means the “path” available for freight trains will get further squeezed.

This can really be a matter of concern, more so in view of not-so-satisfactory progress of the Dedicated Freight Corridor projects. The interests of a sector which contributes maximum revenue to the Railways are being sacrificed in favour of political expediency. The Railways had originally projected to handle 967 mt or so in 2010-11, subsequently scaled down to 944 mt, which too will not be achieved.

PAMPERED PASSENGERS
With no change in passenger fares, the growth in passenger earnings should correspond to the growth in physical volume of passenger traffic. However, that may not happen, with the Railways Minister announcing a plethora of fare concessions to please a cross-section of people. Also, steps should be taken to plug such leakages as ticket-less travelling. The effort in this regard leaves much to be desired.

In fact, leaving passenger fares untouched year after year is devoid of any prudent business policy. In a market-driven economy, the user charges should be commensurate with the quality of services being offered.

Also, the impact of inflation, the rise in costs, particularly that fuelled by the oil price hike, should be factored in at the time of pricing of services.

An apprehension has been expressed in certain quarters that the Indian Railways (IR) might walk into a debt-trap, unless utmost care is taken in regard to utilisation of funds to be raised by IRFC.

If the funds are deployed in long-gestation projects such as construction of new lines or doubling, then the apprehension might be proved right. This is because debt-servicing will start from day one, while the return on investment will come much later. On other hand, money spent on wagon acquisition might yield a quicker return.

CONTAINER TRAFFIC
With high cost of operation and low revenue earning, Kolkata's Metro Rail has been a constant bugbear to the Railways. One solution could be to hive it off into a separate subsidiary. Prior to the emergence of the Container Corporation of India (Concor), the Railways used to operate seven inland container depots, none doing well.

Subsequently, these ICDs were transferred to Concor and many more were added. Today, Concor is a profit-earning arm of the Railways. The announcement of double-stack trains between Gujarat port and New Delhi surprises those familiar with the development on the container train front.

For about five years now, the container trains have been running between Gujarat ports and Jaipur. The service may be extended from Jaipur to New Delhi. One wonders if such an extension merits announcement in the Budget. Last year, the private container operators were offered Assured Transit Time Scheme but none opted for it.

INTERESTING PROPOSALS
The Rail Budget for 2011-12 also has some interesting proposals. For example, the States guaranteeing trouble-free rail movement will be entitled to two new trains as also two new projects as a special package. This should force States to gear up their law enforcing machinery.

Another such proposal is the Prime Minister's Rail Vikas Yojana, to create a fund to implement socially desirable projects in the Twelfth Plan. The third is the introduction of Go India Smart Card. The proposal for an Integrated Suburban Railway Network too is interesting.

Aren't the politicians attaching undue importance to the Rail Budget proposals as a means of winning elections, one wonders. Nobody realises this better than Mr Lalu Prasad. He should not have suffered the ignominious defeat in Bihar Assembly elections recently if one judged him by the proposals announced for Bihar during his tenure as Railways Minister.
:ohno:

^^
A generally on the spot assessment.

BTW, pls do quote sources in your post.

Indian Railways Official Website (http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/) and all the Zone websites changed in similar fashion

Lessons for Mamata’s Railway
Posted on February 28, 2011 by iSikkim | Category: Editorials Featured Post Other | 19 views | 0 Comments
Tilak Jha

Case I

1858: The first plan to lay railway tracks in eastern India was made by the British when Eastern Bengal Railway (guaranteed railways) was formed in 1858. In 1859 Eastern Bengal Railway (EBR) begins construction on Calcutta-Kushtia line (175km). In 1862 November, EBR’s Calcutta-Kushtia (now in Bangladesh) line opens for traffic. By 1879 North Bengal State Rly. opens Parbatipur-Kaunia (both in northern Bangladesh) MG line.

Case II

1878: A standard gauge railway connected Kolkata and Siliguri in 1878. Siliguri, at the base of the Himalayas, was connected to Darjeeling by Tonga services. Franklin Prestage, an agent of Eastern Bengal Railway Company approached the government with a proposal of laying a steam tramway from Siliguri to Darjeeling. The proposal was accepted in 1879 after review by a committee and construction started the same year. The 86 kilometres Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, nicknamed the “Toy Train” was built between 1879 and 1881.

Case III

1947: Post partition two big systems, Bengal Assam Railway and North Western Railway are no longer in India (these included the workshops of Saidpur and Mogulpura, respectively). Assam Railway is cut off from the rest of the Indian system.

Assam Rail Link re-connecting Assam Railways with the rest of the Indian system wholly through Indian Territory: 229 km meter-gauge line is built within 2 years. Link opened to passenger traffic on Jan 26, 1950: Republic Day.

Case IV

1996: A master plan is announced in 1996 to link all the capital cities of the eight northeastern states by 2006. It’s 2010. Besides Guwahati, only Tripura capital Agartala are connected by the railway network in 2008 after constant struggle. In 2011 rail budget, Mamata Banerjee announces that the seven northeastern capitals will be connected in the next seven years.

Case V

The first rail line was laid in 1853. By 1901 total Railway mileage reach at about 24,750 miles in India, of which 14,000 miles are BG (Broad Gauge), and most of the rest MG (Medium Gauge). By 1931 the total track in India jumps to about 43,000 miles.


Train in Tripura after rain in June 2010
Train in Tripura after rain in June 2010
On the front of building tracks as well, we have miserably failed. From where the British left, India has hardly done enough to use develop its rail network. True, why the British Raj built railway lines so fast because of its plans to control India and ensure transportation of military and supplies at a quick pace across the country but so are the needs of modern India to provide a cheap and reliable means of all weather transport.

Learn from China Mamata:

China has done it. China’s railway network has grown from 78,000 km at the end of 2007 to 91,000 km at the end of 2010, and is expected to grow to 110,000 km by the end of 2012. That means that China has added almost half of the India’s total rail network in last decade alone.

From 1990 to 2001, China has added, on average some 1,092 km of new railways, 837 km of multiple-track, and 962 km of electrified railways annually. And we, after almost two decades of economic reforms, have added less than one thousand KMs in last 20 years. Our rail route length has grown from 62,367 km in 1990 to only about 63,350 km now. China built over 2,500 km of new lines in 2008, 3,450 km in 2009 and plans to add 6,000 km of new tracks every year till 2020!!!

The fastest Indian trains, the Rajdhani and the Shatabdi average no more than 80 km per hour. Any train that runs at 55 km per hour or more is called super-fast. We don’t have enough of them either. And our goods trains run no more than 19 km to 30 km per hour in different part of the country. Eight years from now (ignore the delays), some 3,000 km of dedicated freight corridors (forming only a tiny segment of our total network) will, hopefully, be in service. They might be running at 100 km an hour.

The average speed on the Chinese railways has shot up to 200 km per hour from 55 km per hour in 1997. China has almost 9000 KMs of High Speed Rail Network with trains running at between 200 km and 350 km per hour will have 25000 KMs of High Speed Network within next 5 years by 2015.

Alas! Has India have enough visionary leaders, democracy would have more reasons to justify itself. We have done it before. It’s time not to fail ourselves and mourn but to do it, once again.

very well written aam aadmy. Excellent collection of history and rightful comparison with china.

New transit card programme set to be trialled on Indian railways

Source (http://www.squidcard.com/corporate/emoneynews/transit/new-transit-card-programme-set-to-be-trialled-on-indian-railways763.html)
A new transit card programme is set to be trialled on Indian railways, it has been revealed.

During his budget speech, railway minister Mamata Banerjee revealed that a Go-India smart card would soon be piloted in select regions to allow users to pay for their travel without the need for cash.

He said: "It will be a single window package for passengers to seamlessly pay for tickets for long distance, sub-urban and metro journeys."

Cardholders would be able to book tickets using the system at counters, vending machines and online, he added.

Furthermore, the minister confirmed that an improved version of the current anti-collision devices will be installed on three railway systems -Southern, South Central and South Western Railways.

This device will then be rolled out to other rail operators including Eastern, East Coast, East Central and South Eastern Railways.

very well written aam aadmy. Excellent collection of history and rightful comparison with china.

Thanks but the article is written by Tilak Jha. I just happened to read this on internet and posted for you all. It really gives the real picture of IR. Something needs to be done urgently.

^^Isnt 1000km of railway track to be built this financial year compared to 200km earlier?

Indian Railways Official Website (http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/) and all the Zone websites changed in similar fashion
see d change ..now sealdah is comin on d homepage..
gud goin IR

of all the brilliant pics available they had to put that hideous looking pic of Sealdah station. :bash:

Thanks but the article is written by Tilak Jha. I just happened to read this on internet and posted for you all. It really gives the real picture of IR. Something needs to be done urgently.

Yes, we need to to something urgently. BUT the problem is that unlike India, the Railways in China do not need to play to the populist gallery. Moreover, as has been discussed ad infinitum in current and various other SSC forums so far, the difference in the system of governance between the two countries does make a difference.

I repeat what I'd mentioned in an earlier post. I do wish Mamata wins the WB election so that she vacates her chair. And then I hope, really really hope that our clean Mr PM is able to resist the 'coalition dharma' and get a person with real vision to head the ministry.

^^Isnt 1000km of railway track to be built this financial year compared to 200km earlier?

Yes, that's what was declared by Mamata. BUT given the track record so far combined with status of Railway finances, there are serious doubts about this getting achieved. As is said, hope for the best, and be prepared for the worst.

There is really no point comparing china and India in terms of infrastructure or anything really. Both these countries are completely different from each other barring the fact that they're neighbours. India will grow at its own pace. Surmounting large hurdles like corruption is a priority at the moment. Once we overcome these hurdles in the infrastructure sector I see no reason as to why India's infrastructure can't rival China's or even the US in 20 years or so.

So not to worry. India is moving in the right direction. Growing at incredible speeds and lifting millions out of poverty. The same goes with its railways. Providing service at astonsihingly cheap prices so that the common man can afford and travel in these trains. Yes,quality might be hampered and changes in terms of infrastructure will take time. But eventually you can bet on India growing in a stable fashion.

There is really no point comparing china and India in terms of infrastructure or anything really. Both these countries are completely different from each other barring the fact that they're neighbours. India will grow at its own pace. Surmounting large hurdles like corruption is a priority at the moment. Once we overcome these hurdles in the infrastructure sector I see no reason as to why India's infrastructure can't rival China's or even the US in 20 years or so.

So not to worry. India is moving in the right direction. Growing at incredible speeds and lifting millions out of poverty. The same goes with its railways. Providing service at astonsihingly cheap prices so that the common man can afford and travel in these trains. Yes,quality might be hampered and changes in terms of infrastructure will take time. But eventually you can bet on India growing in a stable fashion.

Ther is no doubting the fact that India is growing at a very impressive rate. But railways is not matching to the Indian growth rate let alone matching china's. Indian railway is still growing at the hindu rate of growth. Something similar to what was done with economy at large in 1991 needs to be done for indian railways. It needs to freed up from beaurocratic clutches and private investment should encouraged in a big way.

Ther is no doubting the fact that India is growing at a very impressive rate. But railways is not matching to the Indian growth rate let alone matching china's. Indian railway is still growing at the hindu rate of growth. Something similar to what was done with economy at large in 1991 needs to be done for indian railways. It needs to freed up from beaurocratic clutches and private investment should encouraged in a big way.

true. As long as we have a POLITICAL head of railways - they'll keep using it as a political tool - Its amazing how BRAZENLY Paswan, Lalu and now Didi is using the railways as their own personal political playground!!!

The one thing that bugs me to no extent - is that how in the 21st century - a "modern" India has trains that STILL drop human waste onto the tracks!!! All the hullaballoo over track improvement, anti-collision, a few new LHB rakes, metros cannot HIDE the fact that we're literally dropping our SHIT onto platforms and on tracks in MOST of our trains!!!
Its laughable that something so "small" in the big picture is still the MOST apparent paradox in our claim to be modernising. Just go to youtube and see the virulent scorn, sarcasm and jokes the world makes about this fact of our trains!!! I hope the "bio loos" they "considering" pans out!! :bash:

There is really no point comparing china and India in terms of infrastructure

But there is.... The fact of the matter is you have to compare yourself with someone who is doing better than you!! comparing to our other neighbors and saying "well we are better than them" is ridiculous!! You have to compare yourself to countries better than you and take them as examples!!

That is such a typical attitude of so many people in our country!! I hate it!!

The babus use this as an excuse and put their feet up!!

No matter how different India and China are, I am sure IR could most deff. have added more track than it has during the past 5 decades!!

http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/02/images/2011030262140201.jpg
PRIZED POSSESSION:The replica of a diesel loco at Bangalore railway station.

BANGALORE: The Bangalore Division of the South Western Railway (SWR) has put a replica of the 4,500 horse power diesel loco — Wide Diesel Passenger (WDP4) Locomotive — on display at the City Railway Station.

Manufactured by the Diesel Locomotive Work, Varanasi, 44 such locos are being maintained by the Diesel Locomotive Shed, Krishnarajapuram, in Bangalore. Since the loco is a matter of prestige for the Indian Railways, the Bangalore Division thought it fit to keep its replica on display, said Divisional Railway Manager Sudhanshu Mani.

Mr. Mani said WDP4 is the most powerful diesel engine available in India, which can haul up to 24 coaches at a time. Train rakes with a minimum of 21 coaches are fitted with this loco and many trains leaving Bangalore are hauled by this engine, he noted. “Also, WDP4 is the most technologically advanced loco and hence we thought of displaying its replica at the City Station,” he added. A railway engineer familiar with WDP4 said that this loco can clock up to 160 km per hour and is fitted with state-of-the-art microprocessor-based controls. These technological advancements make the loco one of the safest engines to be deployed to haul passenger coaches, the engineer noted.

While a conventional loco consumes about 164 gm diesel to produce 1 bhp, WDP4 consumes 155 gm of diesel to produce the same power, he said. Across the country, there are about 400 WDP4 locos, the engineer added.

The replica is kept for display near the parking lot at the Okalipuram entrance of the City Railway Station.

Source:http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/02/stories/2011030262140200.htm

Indian Railways to procure 18000 wagons next FY

The Indian Railways are set to procure a record number of 16,500 wagons during the current financial year.

Announcing this, while presenting the Railway Budget for 2011-12, the minister of railways, Ms Mamata Banerjee said that for 2011-12 a higher target of 18,000 wagons has been set.

She said that all the production units of the Indian Railways have performed well during 2009-10.

She announced that CLV has turned out the first locomotive with hotel load converter to meet power requirement of coaches and pantry car.

The capacity of Diesel Locomotive Works is being augmented to 300 locos.

The minister of railways also informed the House that all the 11 railway PSUs have performed well in 2009-10 with a turnover of more than INR 15,000 crore, earning a net profit of INR 1,782 crore.

http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/Indian_Railways_to_procure_18000_wagons_next_FY/193372.html

TOI (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-02-26/pune/28636888_1_new-trains-ajmer-new-rail-lines)
Marathwada's rail connect improves

Syed Rizwanullah,TNN,Feb 26, 2011, 03.07am ISTTags:Mamata Banerjee
AURANGABAD: Connectivity between Marathwada and cities in the south and the north of the country got better with the announcement of new trains and extension of some others by railway minister Mamata Banerjee.

Aurangabad got two new trains -from Nagarsol near Manmad to Jalna via Aurangabad and Nagarsol to Narsapur in Andhra Pradesh. The Nizamabad-Vishakhapatnam and Sambalpur-Nizamabad trains were extended up to Nanded and a new train was introduced on the Kolhapur-Parli-Nanded-Nagpur route.

Western Maharashtra too benefited as a new train from Kolhapur to Nagpur (via Kurudwadi, Latur) has been announced. In addition, surveys for new rail lines will be undertaken.

The Marathwada Railway Vikas Samiti said it had expected much more from the budget. Its president Omprakash Verma said, "We wanted rail links to Ajmer and Howrah and regular services to Bangalore from Aurangabad. Besides, work on the Ahmednagar-Beed-Parli rail link must be speeded up."

The new Pune-Latur-Nanded link was some solace, Verma said. "Though we have been demanding rail connectively between Aurangabad and Ajmer, the budget has provided a train to Ajmer via Nanded-Akola,'' he added.

A new weekly train between Howrah and Nanded is another highlight. The Solapur-Gadag express will be extended to Hubli, and the Hubli-Bijapur passenger will be extended up to Solapur.

A plan for improvement of Nanded and Aurangabad stations and the approaches is on the cards. Banerjee said that as part of the rail tourism project, stations will be improved in partnership with the ministry of tourism. The cost of the project will be shared.

Survery to facilitate new lines between Kolhapur and Dharwad, and between Kolhapur and Konkan have been announced. The minister said that the construction of a railway line between Lonand and Phaltan will be completed soon.

Patna-Shalimar Duronto fails to enthuse passengers

Although the people in Patna welcomed railway minister Mamata Banerjee's announcement in the railway budget for 2011-12 to run a Duronto train between Shalimar and Patna Junction, most of them were not aware of the place like Shalimar.

According to ECR CPRO Dilip Kumar, Shalimar is a new terminal near Kolkata in West Bengal which falls under the jurisdiction of the South Eastern Railway (SER). This newly built terminal is located on Patna-Kharagpur route linking directly to a terminal from where most of south-bound mail trains originate, he said.

The CPRO told TOI that the Railway Board would decide the run and route of this particular train in July this year when the railways would bring out its new time table. The proposed new train — Shalimar- Patna Duronto Express — would run on priority basis after a decision is taken on its route and schedule , he said, adding this superfast train is likely to take eight hours from Patna to reach Shalimar.

Meanwhile, the Bihar Daily Passengers' Association said that the railway minister should have announced a new Duronto on the much crowded route like Patna-Delhi, Patna-Mumbai, Patna-Chennai and Patna-Bangalore. It is a matter of consideration for the Board to decide whether a Duronto train should run between Patna and a non-descript place like Shalimar. Besides, Shalimar is, too, far away from Kolkata or Howrah hence the passengers would hardly think to board it for their journey to Howrah , said members of the association. TNN

See R2Ci policy of railway. I fail to understand why any private party will invest if it going to be transferred to Railways for O&M at no cost. The Railway will levy surcharge to recover investment by private party that too without interest. There must be some incentive for private player but I could not figure out. Stange ways of Railways. Ye nahin sudhrenge.

:bash::bash::bash:

Five-six years needed to complete world-class station project: Minister2011-03-03 21:50:00 Dotto TrainsAds by GoogleRail and Road Tourist Trains since 1962. www.dottotrains.com
New Delhi, March 3 (IANS) Days after Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee apologised in parliament for the delay in developing 60 stations into world-class ones as proposed in her previous rail budgets, the railways Thursday said it would take five-six years to complete the project.

In written reply in the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Railways K.H. Muniappa said work would begin after award of concession and financial closure is achieved by the concessionaire.


The completion of the project is likely to take five-six years due to 'complexity and necessity to undertake the work while keeping the station operational', the minister said.


He said consultancy works for preparing the master plan and feasibility report had been taken up for New Delhi, CST Mumbai and Patna, but 'due to high cost of these projects, not much headway could be made'.


He said measures had been initiated for appointment of consultants for 11 other stations - Secunderabad, Howrah, Anand Vihar (Ph. II), Chandigarh, Bijwasan, Kolkata, Porbandar, Surat, Ahmedabad, Sealdah and Chennai Central.


For other stations, preliminary activities are being taken up by the Zonal Railways, he said.


In her rail budget in 2009 Banerjee had proposed that around 50 stations would be developed as world class stations with international level facilities. The stations would be developed through innovative financing and in Public Private Partnership mode.


Among the stations to be developed into world class stations are CST Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Howrah, Sealdah, Bhubaneswar, New Delhi, Lucknow, Varanasi, Amritsar, Kanpur, Guwahati, Jaipur, Chennai Central, Tiruvananthapuram Central, Secunderabad, Tirupati, Bangalore City, Baiyapanahali (Bangalore), Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Habibganj, Gaya Jn., Agra Cantt., Mathura Jn., Chandigarh, Kolkata, New Jalpaiguri, Majerhat, Mangalore, Porbandar, Anand Vihar (Delhi), Bijwasan (Delhi), Ajmer Jn. and Puri.


In her rail budget 2010, she proposed to develop 10 more stations into world-class stations which were Ambala Cantt, Bolpur, Ernakulam, Gorakhpur, Jammu, Jhansi, Kharagpur, Kota, Surat and Thane.

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^^
Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee apologised in parliament for the delay in developing 60 stations into world-class ones as proposed in her previous rail budgets, the railways Thursday said it would take five-six years to complete the project.

5-6 yrs!, Gosh, we have the most retarded minister, who heads perhaps the worlds most inefficient organization - Indian Railways.

and the reason is even more lame

'complexity and necessity to undertake the work while keeping the station operational'

Give the works to L&T, GMR, GVK or any of these new fangled private construction firms like Prestige/Shoba/DLF/... Construction companies and they will have this constructed within a year all gleaming, polished, modern and world class. The Railway Station Bathrooms would be spic and span, food stalls would be a treat and the signage and design elements would all be modern in line with the times we live in. And they would do it while it is operational like GVK's Mumbai Airport.
When other countries effortlessly upgrade their systems in record time, India is stuck with more red tape and babus running around with "N O - O B J E C T I O N " certificate in triplicate. We need to bury this bureaucracy soon otherwise we will be relegated to last world country in short order.

Now, Fog Shields' to check rail mishaps in winter

Apart from announcing installation of anti-collision device (ACD) at all vulnerable places in different zones, including the East Central Railway (ECR), railway minister Mamata Banerjee does not appear to have given much emphasis on safety measures, in the rail budget.

The Railway Board has now decided to install " Fog Shields" at all vulnerable places in northern and eastern India to check mishaps on tracks during winter. After five years of successful experiments, the Board has finally decided to install about 1,000 "Fog Shields" in these regions. The new instrument is based on Geographical Positioning System (GPS) device, a Board official said. According to him, the work related to it has already started on the Ambala-Moradabad-Bikaner-Jabalpur-Kota section

which would be completed on a priority basis. Besides, the railways is keen to install them much in advance so that their physical test is completed before onset of winter, he said.

Out of 1,000 newly developed instruments, 50 per cent will be installed on the most vulnerable Allahabad-Mughalsarai route of Delhi-Howrah via Patna mainline route. Keeping in mind that the mainline route is getting increasingly choked due to huge traffic movement, track safety has become an overriding concern for the railways, he said, adding this could be possible only when the railways adopts foolproof safety measures on tracks.

According to sources, the railways has been so far using an obsolete method of safety on tracks (tiny detonators) during winter which was introduced by the Britishers about 70 years ago. Since then the safety system during winter or foggy weather condition did not change. However, the imported system will cost a huge amount to the railways. The indigenously developed technology, which is portable and battery operated, could cater to the needs of railway safety at low cost, the sources said.

A Board official told TOI that the new device was first developed in 2005. But the recent accidents on tracks in North Central Railway (NCR) on the mainline route expedited its adoption. Besides, the railways is inclined to run high-speed long-distance trains from this year. This will be possible only when the railways is able to ensure foolproof safety on tracks in all seasons for faster movement of trains. Installation of "Fog Shields" is thus a step forward towards further strengthening safety measures on tracks, he said.

TNN

Now, Fog Shields' to check rail mishaps in winter

...
According to sources, the railways has been so far using an obsolete method of safety on tracks (tiny detonators) during winter which was introduced by the Britishers about 70 years ago. Since then the safety system during winter or foggy weather condition did not change. However, the imported system will cost a huge amount to the railways. The indigenously developed technology, which is portable and battery operated, could cater to the needs of railway safety at low cost, the sources said.

A Board official told TOI that the new device was first developed in 2005. But the recent accidents on tracks in North Central Railway (NCR) on the mainline route expedited its adoption. Besides, the railways is inclined to run high-speed long-distance trains from this year. This will be possible only when the railways is able to ensure foolproof safety on tracks in all seasons for faster movement of trains. Installation of "Fog Shields" is thus a step forward towards further strengthening safety measures on tracks, he said.

TNN

OMG, did I read it right?? A detonator is a device used to trigger an explosive device; so they were using some sort of explosives to handle the fog problem :?

Also if a cheaper domestic technology is available, why are we going for costlier imported ones?

"the railways is inclined to run high-speed long-distance trains from this year".... what are these trains. Are they talking about the proposed partnership with Japan for feasibility of starting trains in 160-200 kmph range?

Hi-tech railway station a reality soon

Over the next 15 days, Chandigarh railway station would witness hi-tech CCTV cameras being installed at strategic locations. These would have a central surveillance room with 20 monitors. The occurrence is stated to be a part of northern railways project to transform the existing station into a world class railway station.

Chandigarh railway station would undergo a metamorphosis as provisions would be made for air-conditioned waiting areas, coffee shops with wireless Internet accessibility, budget hotels for overnight passengers and CCTV cameras at every nook and corner. Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC) has approved the restaurants and snack shops at the railway station.

The move assumes significance as during the Union Railways Budget 2011-12 speech last Monday, railways minister Mamta Banerjee had stated, that though the railways have announced the setting-up of a number of world-class stations, not much could be achieved due to high costs.

Officials at the railway station said that the earlier plan to set-up shopping malls, convenience stores, fast-food centres, restaurants and even hospitals on the railways-owned land had involved a lot of money and as such had required the participation of private players.

''There were proposals to tie-up with a business house in New Delhi to start the project here in Chandigarh. However, the private player was not too keen as they believed that it would not be feasible to run restaurants and shopping complexes here. That prompted us to rethink the issue at the central level and now the plans would soon materialize,'' said a senior official. He added that at present, about 20 brand new CCTVs would be put up around the premises keeping in mind the entry-exit points as well. TNN

IRCTC to start food plazas, joints at stations

If all goes as planned, you will soon be able to sit and enjoy a good meal at the Andheri station. The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) has already floated tenders to construct a food plaza at the newly constructed building of the Andheri (East) station. The Railways p ropose to introduce food plazas and fast food units at 58 stations in next year.

Virender Shah, group general manager of west zone for the IRCTC said on Friday that the IRCTC has decided to expand its catering services in the Mumbai division as well as all across the West zone of the Railways.

“In the current financial year, we have already opened tenders for 29 food plazas and five fast food joints in the Western zone and the tender for 58 more food plazas on the stations will be opened after April. Of these 58, 16 are on the Central Railway and 15 on the Western,” said Shah.

On the Central Railway, the major stations where the food plaza will come up include Masjid, Byculla, Kurla, Ghatkopar, Mulund, Wadala, Tilak Road, Panvel, Titwala, Ambernath, Karjat, etc. and on the Western line stations such as Charni Road, Grant Road, Goregaon, Mahalaxmi will get either a food plaza or a fast food units depending upon availability of land.

According to IRCTC official, the land on the stations, which is used for the provision of public amenities is leased out to the IRCTC, which is then given to the commercial companies. IRCTC has already done such experiment at Churchgate, Mumbai Central and Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus.

Ironically, the Railways had implemented policy in 2009 that did not renew IRCTC’s contract for mobile catering services, including base kitchens, pantry cars and all food stalls on stations, but had said that the food plazas will remain with the railway subsidiary. This policy had caused a loss of about Rs200 crore to IRCTC. To recover the loss, they have decided to expand their catering services.

The IRCTC has also planned to introduce non-railway catering services, by opening food plazas and mini-restaurants on the highways. “We are tying up with the oil companies like Hindustan Petroleum and Indian Oil, by which the food plazas will come on Mumbai-Nasik and Mumbai-Ahmedabad highways soon,” said Rahul Himalian, additional general manager of IRCTC. Hindustan Times

Rlys inks deal for axle unit in Bengal

The railways recently signed a memorandum of understanding with the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) for setting up a new rail axle manufacturing factory at New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal. This project may cost railways about Rs 300 crore.

According to a Railway Board official, the railways has decided to set up a state-of-the-art axle manufacturing factory to meet its requirements. The proposed factory, which is to be built in collaboration with the RINL, will be completed within two years. This factory will be the lone unit for manufacturing high-power and quality axles for the railways, he said.

The factory will have the capacity to produce 50000 axles each year. It will be set up on railway land, which is being leased out to the RINL for a period of 30 years. The RINL will spend 100% equity as per the agreement reached with the railways, the official said.

According to sources, the railways will run a large number of goods trains after completion of the dedicated freight corridors in the eastern and western regions. Since freight loading has remained the core area of the railways for generating more revenue, the railways intends to run more goods trains. This can be possible only when the railways have an adequate number of wagons and axles. Thus, the railways needs more axles, particularly for BOX-N type wagons, to carry more freight to far-off places across the country, the sources said.

A Board official told TOI that the railways would need a minimum of 20000 axles each year to cope with the needs of the increasing number of goods trains running across the country. Currently, the railways has been carrying about 2.5 million tonnes of goods every day across the country. The Dhanbad division of the East Central Railway has been the mainstay of the Indian Railways in the sphere of goods loading and carriage segment and it has yielded maximum revenue to the railways, he said, adding that the demand for axles is on the rise to sustain freight loading demands of goods trains. TNN

Tripura to connect W Bengal via Akhaura

In order to facilitate rail connectivity between West Bengal and Tripura via Bangladesh, the Indian government is financing construction of a railway on the missing link between Akhaura (Bangladesh) and Agartala, capital of Tripura.

Indian Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa, late on Thursday, informed the Lok Sabha (Lower House of Parliament) in a written reply to a question.

He informed that timeframe for the implementation of the project depended on issues, including acceptance of the proposed alignment by the Bangladesh authorities and availability of land required for the project.

India has been assisting Bangladesh in developing its rail network by providing rolling stock and helping improve its fixed infrastructure.

Recently a joint railways delegation of India and Bangladesh has finalised the alignment of rail connecting the Agartala rail station with the Kashba rail station in Bangladesh.

Update on high speed train corridors in India

Monday, 07 Mar 2011

Mr KH Muniyappa minister of state for railways informed the Lok Sabha that in respect of Rapid Rail Transit System to connect neighboring towns with Delhi, NCR Planning Board has commissioned study which envisages preparation of Detailed Project Report after detailed feasibility study in respect of three corridors ie Delhi-Meerut, Delhi-Rewari-Alwar and Delhi-Sonepat-Panipat. The speed of the train being studied is in the range of about 160 kmph.

As the feasibility study has not yet been completed, the implementation timeline cannot be commented upon. :bash:

The ‘Vision 2020’ envisages the implementation of one project in each of the regions of the nation and planning for at least 8 more corridors connecting commercial, tourist and pilgrimage hubs. Six High Speed Rail Corridors have already been identified for pre-feasibility studies.

These are :

1. Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar

2. Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad

3. Hyderabad-Dornakal-Vijayawaa-Chennai

4. Howrah-Haldia

5. Chennai-Bangalore-Coimbatore-Ernakulam

6. Delhi-Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi-Patna

The Vision 2010 document envisages that these could be built as elevated corridors in keeping with the pattern of habitation and constraint of land in our country. The Railways will use the PPP mode for investment and execution, and draw on frontier technologies incorporating the highest standards of safety and service quality. So far pre-feasibility study of Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor has been completed.

http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/Update_on_high_speed_train_corridors_in_India/194562.html

Hi-tech railway station a reality soon

Over the next 15 days, Chandigarh railway station would witness hi-tech CCTV cameras being installed at strategic locations. These would have a central surveillance room with 20 monitors. The occurrence is stated to be a part of northern railways project to transform the existing station into a world class railway station.

Chandigarh railway station would undergo a metamorphosis as provisions would be made for air-conditioned waiting areas, coffee shops with wireless Internet accessibility, budget hotels for overnight passengers and CCTV cameras at every nook and corner. Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation ( IRCTC) has approved the restaurants and snack shops at the railway station.

The move assumes significance as during the Union Railways Budget 2011-12 speech last Monday, railways minister Mamta Banerjee had stated, that though the railways have announced the setting-up of a number of world-class stations, not much could be achieved due to high costs.

Officials at the railway station said that the earlier plan to set-up shopping malls, convenience stores, fast-food centres, restaurants and even hospitals on the railways-owned land had involved a lot of money and as such had required the participation of private players.

''There were proposals to tie-up with a business house in New Delhi to start the project here in Chandigarh. However, the private player was not too keen as they believed that it would not be feasible to run restaurants and shopping complexes here. That prompted us to rethink the issue at the central level and now the plans would soon materialize,'' said a senior official. He added that at present, about 20 brand new CCTVs would be put up around the premises keeping in mind the entry-exit points as well. TNN

Just installation of 'hi-tech' cctv cameras can not make a station as hi-tech.

Update on high speed train corridors in India
...
The Vision 2010 document envisages that these could be built as elevated corridors in keeping with the pattern of habitation and constraint of land in our country. The Railways will use the PPP mode for investment and execution, and draw on frontier technologies incorporating the highest standards of safety and service quality. So far pre-feasibility study of Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad corridor has been completed.

http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/Update_on_high_speed_train_corridors_in_India/194562.html

We have been hearing about completion of this 'pre-feasibility' study for some time now. BUT what is the next step is something that we are yet to hear?!

Update from Malaysia, the Seremban-Gemas electrified double tracking project.

It is constructed by IRCON.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5175/5508864808_0f5b68380b_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5012/5508865840_7f840708be_b.jpg

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5093/5508264499_6c81ff00de_b.jpg

^^
Nice! What holds them from replicating similar structures back in India?

^^
Nice! What holds them from replicating similar structures back in India?

Design of the station is done by Malaysian company.

Project management, KLIA Consult from Malaysia.

Construction of the whole 94 km section, that includes double tracking and electrification, all done by IRCON.

With this line (built on existing alignment), we, in Malaysia can enjoy one of the fastest metre gauge rail ride, 140 or 160 km/h.

IRCON did construct the first phase of electrified double tracking project in Klang Valley area (greater Kuala Lumpur) in early 1990's.

Example of the Klang Valley section with commuter train
http://img148.imageshack.us/img148/3239/ktmkomuter2kx.jpg

Tunnel section north of Seremban, built by IRCON
http://s2.kimag.es/share/78625109.jpg

Here in Malaysia, KTM has a fleet of YDMs leased from India.

It should be ready by May 2011, for Senawang and Sg Gadut stations.

The rest, totalling 4 stations, should be ready by next year.

We have been hearing about completion of this 'pre-feasibility' study for some time now. BUT what is the next step is something that we are yet to hear?!
I agree. Also I am not sure if all the routes are well thought off in terms of practicality, ridership, cost/benefit.
Having said that I feel that the plan to increase speed (upto 180/200 kmph) on high density corridors (Mum-HWH, Mum-Ahb, Che-Bang e.t.c) is a good plan. I believe there was a mention of this in the just presented rail budget.

We have been hearing about completion of this 'pre-feasibility' study for some time now. BUT what is the next step is something that we are yet to hear?!

You are right study,report, committee, feasibility are the buzzwords to keep people happy and give a sense that something is happening. Not much of money is spent on these reports as well. Rakesh Mohan once said that Indian Railways is most studied organisation in the world. You ask anything and they have a report done for it. Now its time to act.

We have an example of China.China has built Rail network right upto our borders passing through comparitively very difficult terrain. They are in now strong stategically compared to us thanks to their rail expansion. Our ineficient IR should atleast wake up now and try something different.
:bash:

Expand railways in Gurgaon on the lines of Metro: MP

A Haryana MP has urged the railway minister Mamata Banerjee to expand the network of Indian railways to the NCR, in the lines of Delhi Metro, so that more and more areas in this region can reap the benefit of infrastructural development.

Rohtak MP, Deepender Singh Hooda, made this suggestion during the general discussion on Union Railway Budget in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. He said that in case the railway expanded its network in the cities of Gurgaon, Rohtak, Panipat, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Faridabad and other adjoining towns on the pattern of Mumbai and Kolkata, it would immensely benefit people living in these areas.

Transport planners had earlier put forth the argument that to deal with the congestion crisis on NCR roads, which is likely to become manifold, there is a need to shift majority of the commuters from roads to the rail.

This was also a part of the recommendation of the massive transport report that the NCR Planning board (NCRPB) had prepared.

The NCRPB has advocated the need of eight suburban rail projects aiming to provide fast mass connectivity to the cities in the NCR region. Of these eight regional rapid transit systems (RRTS), which could cover 640km, three could be taken up on priority basis.

A study by NCRPB found Bulandshahr, Alwar, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Sonipat,

Gurgaon, Faridabad and Rohtak as some of the key districts from where the capital gets maximum number of migrants.

The umbrella body had proposed to take up Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, Delhi-Gurgaon-Rewari-Alwar and Delhi-Sonipat-Panipat as the priority corridors.

As per the proposal, though a majority of the dedicated RRTS corridors would come up along the existing railway network across NCR, their alignment could be shifted in some cases so that these become more accessible to commuters.

Sources said that though the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed corridors would identify the alignment of these stretches, the frequency of these trains would be more than the conventional EMUs running between Delhi-Palwal and Delhi-Ghaziabad.

On Tuesday, Hooda also suggested launching of EMU services between Shakur Basti Delhi and Rohtak once the electrification of this stretch completes. He said this would benefit about two lakh passengers everyday. TNN

I agree. Also I am not sure if all the routes are well thought off in terms of practicality, ridership, cost/benefit.
Having said that I feel that the plan to increase speed (upto 180/200 kmph) on high density corridors (Mum-HWH, Mum-Ahb, Che-Bang e.t.c) is a good plan. I believe there was a mention of this in the just presented rail budget.

Fully agree. Instead of hoping for that big increment, it will serve all much better if we can atleast have incremental upgrade in speeds. To this direction, the mention of cooperation with Japan for achieving upgraded speed in the budget speech was a welcome announcement. Now we need to see if it is going to just talk or something concrete will happen now.

Wish the ministry was more open in their working so that people know what is happening.

Expand railways in Gurgaon on the lines of Metro: MP

A Haryana MP has urged the railway minister Mamata Banerjee to expand the network of Indian railways to the NCR, in the lines of Delhi Metro, so that more and more areas in this region can reap the benefit of infrastructural development.

Rohtak MP, Deepender Singh Hooda, made this suggestion during the general discussion on Union Railway Budget in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday. He said that in case the railway expanded its network in the cities of Gurgaon, Rohtak, Panipat, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Faridabad and other adjoining towns on the pattern of Mumbai and Kolkata, it would immensely benefit people living in these areas.

Transport planners had earlier put forth the argument that to deal with the congestion crisis on NCR roads, which is likely to become manifold, there is a need to shift majority of the commuters from roads to the rail.

This was also a part of the recommendation of the massive transport report that the NCR Planning board (NCRPB) had prepared.

The NCRPB has advocated the need of eight suburban rail projects aiming to provide fast mass connectivity to the cities in the NCR region. Of these eight regional rapid transit systems (RRTS), which could cover 640km, three could be taken up on priority basis.

A study by NCRPB found Bulandshahr, Alwar, Meerut, Ghaziabad, Sonipat,

Gurgaon, Faridabad and Rohtak as some of the key districts from where the capital gets maximum number of migrants.

The umbrella body had proposed to take up Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut, Delhi-Gurgaon-Rewari-Alwar and Delhi-Sonipat-Panipat as the priority corridors.

As per the proposal, though a majority of the dedicated RRTS corridors would come up along the existing railway network across NCR, their alignment could be shifted in some cases so that these become more accessible to commuters.

Sources said that though the detailed project report (DPR) for the proposed corridors would identify the alignment of these stretches, the frequency of these trains would be more than the conventional EMUs running between Delhi-Palwal and Delhi-Ghaziabad.

On Tuesday, Hooda also suggested launching of EMU services between Shakur Basti Delhi and Rohtak once the electrification of this stretch completes. He said this would benefit about two lakh passengers everyday. TNN

Well said.
However here is another line of thought .... Why don't these MP's work with government and other private businesses to create enough sustainable economic activity in their own areas so that people en-mass don't need to migrate/daily commute to the bigger metros and thus avoid placing pressure on already scarce infrastructure there.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Now-railway-tickets-at-post-offices/articleshow/7664139.cms)
Now rly tickets at post offices

PATNA: Postal services and railways are coming together with a project to open computerised ticket booking counters at post offices in various parts of the state.

To begin with, select post offices in 27 of the state's 38 districts would book the railway tickets. The districts include Patna, Muzaffarpur, Nalanda, Gaya , Saran, Madhubani, East Champaran, Munger, Bhagalpur, Banka, Siwan, Jamui, Begusarai, Purnia and Darbhanga.

Post office employees are being trained by the railways for the purpose. A 15-day training session for the employees of Purnia began on Thursday. "Once the training is over, we would start booking railway tickets from our post office in Purnia," director (postal services and marketing) Anil Kumar told TOI and added all the other counters in the remaining districts would become functional by April-end.

Kumar said his department is not hiring fresh hands to handle the railway ticket counters. "We are opening these new ticket counters at points and places that are away from railways' existing counters," he said.

The post offices, where ticket counters are opening, are already wired through computer network. There are also gensets in these offices and, as such, the project did not require new infrastructure. "Only railway ticketing machines had to be installed," Kumar said.

Kumar said as many as 117 post offices of the state are equipped with computer network. A comprehensive monitoring system is also in place with videoconferencing taking place among top executives every fortnight to maintain the standard of service

New rail link to connect Agartala with Bangladesh town

Dhaka, March 10 (IANS) The construction work on a 10-kilometre railway track directly linking southeastern Akhaura town in Bangladesh with Agartala, the capital of Indian state of Tripura, is set to begin later this year.

"Both India and Bangladesh are moving fast to establish the train connectivity," Director General of Railway Towhidul Anwar Chowdhury told The Daily Star.

With the establishment of the new link, Tripura and part of northeast India will be connected to the Chittagong Port in Bangladesh through railway.

Communications ministry officials say the new rail link, to be constructed with Indian grant, will open up huge opportunities for both the countries, especially in trade, tourism and communications.

India will be able to transport goods through the rail link by using the seaport, while Bangladesh will gain financial benefit by charging them for using the railway and port facilities.

India has been pressing for the rail link as it will also reduce distance between Agartala and Kolkata.

However, the rail link is mainly aimed at freight services, The Daily Star said Thursday.

There is also a road link between Akhaura of Brahmanbaria and Agartala. The Dhaka-Agartala bus service, introduced in 2003, operates through this route.

It runs irregularly and hardly yields any benefit, officials said.

The two countries have already finalised alignment of the rail tracks and are now determining construction cost as well as the modus operandi of the train service.

Chowdhury said Bangladesh has endorsed an alignment that connects Gangasagar, a small train station in Akhaura, and Agartala for the new route. The route was finalised in October last year.

"Both the countries will determine the cost and modus operandi of construction of the tracks after the central government endorses the route," said Iftekharul Islam, additional secretary of the communications ministry.

Gangasagar and Agartala, both about five kilometres from the international border, will be linked through metre gauge line. But the option for a broad gauge line will also be there.

The rail connectivity is taking place as per the agreement between Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh during her visit to India in January last year.

self-deleted

Indian Railway Finance Plans Overseas Debt Issue

MUMBAI – Indian Railway Finance Corp. Ltd. plans to raise the equivalent of $650 million via foreign currency bonds or loans in the fiscal year that starts on April 1, a senior executive said.

The company--which has so far issued debt only in dollars, yen and euro--may consider raising the money in currencies such as the Swiss franc, Malaysian ringgit, as well as the euro and yen, its managing director R. Kashyap said.

"We always look at the pricing [of a debt transaction] after hedging, because our end-use is in rupees. If it works out to be cost-effective for us after hedging, we'll be very happy to do a CHF [Swiss franc] transaction, because that is one thing we haven't done," Mr. Kashyap said in a recent interview.

Over the past couple of years, IRFC has increased its focus on the overseas debt market to meet its funding needs since the government has kept passenger fares unchanged for eight years. In this year's railway budget, freight rates haven't been raised.

Indian companies--particularly lenders--are in search of new markets and a fresh pool of investors as they try to avoid growing supply pressures in traditional overseas bond markets. Union Bank of India in January sold bonds denominated in Swiss francs while IDBI Bank was mulling ringgit-denominated bond issues as an alternative to rising yields.

IRFC's $650 million overseas borrowing will form part of the 105.94 billion rupees ($2.36 billion) it is allowed to raise, according to the federal budget presented in February.

The remaining will be a mix of tax-bearing bonds and term loans denominated in Indian rupees, Mr. Kashyap said.

The company can also raise 100 billion rupees by issuing tax-free bonds.

The total of over 205 billion rupees ($4.57 billion) is more than double the 91.2 billion rupees it was permitted to raise this financial year through March.

The money will be used to finance capacity enhancement projects and to buy rolling stock assets for the Indian Railways, the world's largest employer.

Mr. Kashyap said the company is planning to front-load its overseas borrowing for $500 million in the first half of the fiscal year beginning April 1.

IRFC raised $450 million and $350 million in September 2009 and September 2010, respectively, through syndicated loans, according to data and analytics provider Dealogic.

It is in the process of raising Y12 billion through a 15-year loan and $200 million by selling five-year bonds, Mr. Kashyap said.

"Our assessment is that, in the next three to four months, the conditions in the samurai [bond] market will improve. I think a few months from now, we should be in a position to enter the samurai market again without a guarantee from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation," Mr. Kashyap said.

As a government-owned company, IRFC has been mandated to employ a conservative hedging strategy.

Mr. Kashyap said the company tries to keep its external commercial borrowing portfolio within manageable levels, in a 12%-15% band of its total outstanding portfolio.

The company's foreign exchange exposure is $1 billion.

"The bulk of it is in dollars. Whenever hedging is done, we do it for the full residual maturity of any transaction," he said.

The company only engages in classical hedging, where an entity holds opposite positions in the market.

It has protected every yen trade, while a small portion of its euro and dollar trades remains unhedged.

"Some of the dollar transactions have been kept open because the medium-term view is that the rupee will remain strong against the dollar, and we didn't want to lock into a hedging arrangement," Mr. Kashyap said.

The Indian rupee has lost 0.7% against the dollar so far in 2011.

Mr. Kashyap said the company has been in the practice of taking a Principal Only Swap during the life of a debt transaction to protect against any event risk. "Because the repayment has to be on a single particular date and any untoward event taking place on that date could expose us to great risk."

Mr. Kashyap believes that the rupee will remain stable over the next three to four years.

"If the rupee slips to 47 or 48 to a dollar in the next three or four years, then we can still live with it," Mr. Kashyap said.

The company has felt the transient impact of foreign exchange volatility, but its profits haven't been hit in a big way as the overseas debt portfolio is small.

source (http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704823004576192093022161366.html?mod=googlenews_wsj)

Indian Railway revenue earnings up by 8pct in 11 months

The total approximate earnings of Indian Railways on originating basis during April 1st 2010 to February 28th 2011 were INR 84382.99 crore compared to INR 77958.06 crore during the same period last financial year, registering an increase of 8.24%.

The total goods earnings have gone up from INR 52595.86 crore during April 1st 2009 to February 28th 2010 to INR 56382.02 crore during April 1st 2010 to February 28th 2011, showing an increase of 7.20%.

The total passenger revenue earnings during the first eleven months of the financial year 2010-11 were INR 23600.40 crore compared to INR 21424.52 crore during the same period last fiscal, registering an increase of 0.15%.

The revenue earnings from other coaching amounted to INR 2297.06 crore during April 2010 to February 2011 compared to INR 2083.79 crore during the same period last financial year, showing an increase of 10.23%.

The total approximate number of passengers booked during April 2010 to February 2011 was 7206.30 million compared to 6777.13 million during the same period last financial year, showing an increase of 6.33%. In the suburban and non-suburban sectors, the number of passengers booked during April 2010 to February 2011 was 3719.11 million and 3487.19 million compared to 3518.00 million and 3259.13 million during the same period last financial year, showing an increase of 5.72% and 7.00% respectively

source (http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/Indian_Railway_revenue_earnings_up_by_8pct_in_11_months/194880.html)

Railway eyes rail link to China

The Indian Railways is studying a proposal to construct a high-speed rail link which will ultimately link the country with China in the future. China has too shown a keen interest to have rail link with India through Manipur areas. At present, China is carrying out a major railway project on its borders to establish a link with India. The proposed rail link between these two giants of Asia is likely to improve further business and trades between them.

According to a Railway Board official, the Indian Railways has already started its initial preparations to provide a rail link on the Jiribam -Moreh route linking Manipur and Myanmar. The railways has been laying broad gauge ( BG) rail lines from Jiribam in south-western Manipur to Moreh on the border of Myanmar, he said, adding this route will connect with the proposed track link being built on the India-Myanmar borders.

The Board official said that an established rail link between India and Myanmar is bound to help these two countries for carrying more shipment and transportation of goods easily to China. According to a report, India s largest trade partner is China in Asia registering about $ 60 billon worth trades last year alone, he said.

According to sources, the railways considers Myanmar as an important regional hub for the railways connecting China and India. China has been trying for long to have its south-western regions develop rail ink with parts of Myanmar.

India is equally keen to make trans-Asian rail project successful in the larger interests of both China and India, sources said, adding the Indian Railways has worked out its plan under the Look East policy providing rail link through Silchar-Imphal-Moreh route to China. According to sources, the railways has decided to complete two major rail projects in the eastern region. While it will develop outskirts of Imphal city for road purpose, it is keen to make Moreh a centre place for import and export.

China wants to build a high-speed rail link to most of the south-western cities, including New Delhi, sources said. Recently, China reached an agreement with several Central Asian countries to go ahead with the ambitious trans-Asian rail project connecting it directly to India, Pakistan, Iraq, Singapore, Russia and other European countries.

However, China s most important proposal is to build a rail line from Kunming located in south-western Yunnen province in Myanmar to New Delhi, sources said. TNN

I think indian govt should be declared redundant and all Indians should request china to take over india so That we also have better trains

I think indian govt should be declared redundant and all Indians should request china to take over india so That we also have better trains

Good idea....if not entire India then atleast IR should be handed over to China Railways.......:cheers:

and Mamata should be sent to Pakistan.......

:rofl:
I think indian govt should be declared redundant and all Indians should request china to take over india so That we also have better trains

Lack of funds, law and order delaying Rly projects: Minister (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/railways/lack-of-funds-law-and-order-delaying-railway-projects-government/articleshow/7679785.cms)

NEW DELHI: Lack of funds, non-availability of land, law and order conditions and environmental clearances are causing delay in completion of Railway projects, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

"Besides financial constraints, Railway projects get delayed due to delay in availability of land, forestry and other clearances, law and order conditions and contractual failures," Minister of State for Railways Bharat Singh Solanki said during Question Hour.

He said slow progress in implementation of projects has also been caused due to "continuing constraints of huge throw-forward of ongoing projects and limited availability of resources."

Solanki said the Railways has adopted Vision 2020 document under which it will work on 307 new projects focusing on network expansion, gauge conversion and doubling existing rail lines.

Presently, work is underway on laying of 122 new lines, 45 gauge conversion and 160 doubling projects," the Minister said.

"By the end of this fiscal, it is expected that 700 km new lines, 800 km gauge conversion and 700 km of doubling of tracks will be achieved," he said.

Solanki said to expedite completion of ongoing projects and to avoid cost overruns and delays, the Railways are making efforts to generate additional funds through measures which are other than Gross Budgetary Support.

To monitor and ensure that funds allocated to different projects are fully-utilised and projects are completed within time, Central Organisation for Project Implementation (COPI) will be created.

"COPI will also ensure accountability and fix responsibility for non-performance," he added.

COPI - It is going to be another organisation in the name of ensuring good project implementation. It will end up creating more post for railway officers, increase more beaurocratic hurdles and waste of taxpayers money. The problem lies elsewhere and we have to rectify those underlying weakness of the organisation. We already have numerous organisation in railways, viz Open Line, construction, CORE, IRPMU, RITES, RVNL, MVCL, KVCL, IRCON, manufacturing units and list is endless, so stop this creation of white elephants and concentrate on core business. There are more efficient people in private sector to give good result at a lower cost.
:)

guys is there any reliable source which lists the type and quantity of freight transported by the IR? This could be from any year in the past 5.

guys is there any reliable source which lists the type and quantity of freight transported by the IR? This could be from any year in the past 5.

IndiansUnite JI :

Please refer to the following :

.

INDIAN RAILWAYS YEAR BOOK 2009 - 2010 (http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/Stat_0910/Year%20Book%202009-10-Sml_size_English.pdf)

I have posted the previous Year Books earlier.

Cheers :cheers:

I think indian govt should be declared redundant and all Indians should request china to take over india so That we also have better trains

indian government and irdian railways suck big time. there are a lot of changes needed in the country at every level, espically at your level and mine. there are more to life than swanky trains and life (and i want them in india as soon as possible too). but don't insult our country by saying that it should be handed over to the chinese. under chinese rule you could get arrested for your above comment. let me give you an example: the internet in china is much faster than in india. but there, google, facebook are banned. anything critisizing china is banned. people get arrested for their online comments in china. can you live under such rule????

Our country is miles away from perfection, but don't insult it by comparing it to china.

China is great in its own way, but i like india the way it is (minus corruption, politics, inefficiency, etc, etc.....)

Donot worry man, sometimes i try to be an intellectual and give these kind of statements.

India's trillion-dollar infrastructure presents opportunities for British business


As India plans to spend US$ 1 trillion on infrastructure development over the next five years, the Minister for Trade and Investment Lord Green is in Delhi today, with a UK rail mission, helping British firms seek out new business opportunities.

India’s busiest railway stations already handle more passengers than the combined numbers handled by all of the countries airports. India plans to spend £57 billion developing its rail network into world-class facilities across the country.

Other high profile infrastructure projects include the 5,800km ‘Golden Quadrilateral’ connecting the subcontinent’s four major metropolises Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata.

“Transforming India’s infrastructure capacity is key to driving forward its future economic growth” said Lord Green.

“We hope UK firms, with their world-class expertise and capabilities, can be the partner of choice as India develops its rail and infrastructure networks.”

The rail mission is part of wider efforts to demonstrate UK expertise to meet India’s infrastructure needs. Last July, the UK and Indian Prime Ministers established the Britain-India Infrastructure Group (BIIG) to take forward business interests in India’s large scale infrastructure development programme. Business Secretary Dr Cable attended its inaugural meeting during his visit to India this January.

During the visit to Delhi, Lord Green will meet the Managing Director of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Dr E Sreedharan. He will meet the Minister of Urban Development, Kamal Nath, and attend an event which brings together key UK and Indian partners in the infrastructure and rail sectors.

British companies including Mott MacDonald and Halcrow are already closely involved with the Delhi Metro project, and a number of other metro projects across India.
The UK Trade & Investment rail mission will also visit Mumbai, Hyderabad and Bangalore.

http://www.freshbusinessthinking.com/news.php?CID=&NID=7721&Title=India%27s+trillion-dollar+infrastructure+presents+opportunities+for+British+business

indian government and irdian railways suck big time. there are a lot of changes needed in the country at every level, espically at your level and mine. there are more to life than swanky trains and life (and i want them in india as soon as possible too). but don't insult our country by saying that it should be handed over to the chinese. under chinese rule you could get arrested for your above comment. let me give you an example: the internet in china is much faster than in india. but there, google, facebook are banned. anything critisizing china is banned. people get arrested for their online comments in china. can you live under such rule????

Our country is miles away from perfection, but don't insult it by comparing it to china.

China is great in its own way, but i like india the way it is (minus corruption, politics, inefficiency, etc, etc.....)

Take it easy man! This was just a tongue in cheek kinda comment. We ALL are patriotic Indians here, and nobody really means this!

hey, sorry for getting pissed earlier. i guess it makes me angry when people say china is superior to india in every aspect.

Source (http://www.travelbizmonitor.com/indian-railways-to-promote-steam-locomotive-shed-at-rewari-as-tourist-destination-12914)

Indian Railways to promote Steam Locomotive shed at Rewari as tourist destination
Plans to operate steam engines on select tourist routes

By Anish V Punnackattu | New Delhi


In an effort to boost Rail Tourism and specifically promote steam locomotives to provide tourist an experience of a bygone era, Indian Railways plans to operate nine steam locomotives currently housed at Rewari Steam Locomotive shed in Haryana on select tourists routes. While routes for trains operated with the steam locomotives have not been decided, the Delhi-Rewari route is expected to be the first for the steam locomotive.

The shed at Rewari, which is the only surviving steam locomotive shed in India is also being developed as a tourist destination. This information was provided by Ashwani Lohani, Divisional Manager-Delhi, Indian Railways, during a presentation on Rewari Steam Locomotive shed and steam engines at meet organised recently by IATO in New Delhi. Lohani presented the potential of the Steam Locomotive shed and marketing it as a Heritage Tourism product to a large gathering of IATO members and invitees from the travel trade fraternity.

According to Lohani, the main objective of this initiative is to promote steam locomotive tourism and showcase the glory of these grand old work horses to the next generation. All the nine steam locomotives were restored before the Commonwealth Games held in New Delhi last October to showcase them as a heritage product. According to Lohani, Indian Railways spent approximately Rupees two crore for restoring the steam engines and the locomotive shed at Rewari. “Currently, the project work of steam locomotive shed at Rewari is 90 per cent complete. Apart from the few rooms for tourist accommodation that are yet to be constructed, tourist facilities at the shed include a lounge, restaurant and cafeteria. Both, foreign and domestic tourists have been visiting the shed to view the restored locomotives,” stated Lohani.

Referring to marketing possibilities, Lohani said that the product has tremendous potential. “In United Kingdom there are 100 routes where steam locomotives are plying attracting large number of tourists. Similarly, in India there is huge potential for tourist trains operated by steam locomotives and also for the Steam Locomotive shed at Rewari to become successful tourism products and destination in near future. With facilities in place like good accommodation, restaurant etc, I am sure tourists will come and experience a slice of history,” stated Lohani.

According to Subhash Verma, Vice President, ADTOI, steam locomotives as a heritage product have great potential but should be developed and promoted in a proper manner. “Tourist trains run by steam engines with sight seeing programmes at various destinations can make for a memorable experience along with visiting the shed at Rewari. Indian Railways should create exclusive packages which can be marketed in international and domestic markets,” opined Verma.

IRCTC to slash online booking charges

K.Balchand

Railways also launching online ticket reservation system

NEW DELHI: Fighting to stay in existence, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited (IRCTC) will be slashing charges on booking e-tickets to match the competition its parent body, the Indian Railways, has decided to throw at it by launching a parallel online passenger ticket reservation system.

Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's budget announcement to allow the Railways to launch a new portal and sell tickets at lower booking charges has made the IRCTC just a tourism promotional venture. It has already been shorn of its food catering business.

The IRCTC, however, has expressed its unwillingness to bow out of the e-ticket selling business without giving its parent body a fight, deciding to sell tickets at the same reduced service charge that the Railways propose to levy to hook passengers to its portal.

The Minister announced that the service charge on A/C tickets will be Rs.10 and Rs.5 for sleeper class tickets — lower by 50 per cent of the charge currently levied for the two categories of tickets. The IRCTC too proposes to bring its rates down by a similar amount.

Yields revenue

With the Railways proposing to launch the new portal in the next financial year, the IRCTC is pondering its own date to pre-empt the loss of business. As of now, the IRCTC sells 3-lakh to 3.5-lakh tickets daily and gets handsome revenue.

Like in the food catering business, the IRCTC has come under much criticism over the sale of tickets, particularly the way the Tatkal tickets are cornered by the brokers with the general public unable to even access the server and book tickets on their own.

The Railways had received more than 1,200 complaints against the poor quality of food served during the 10 months of the current financial year itself.

The Railways has now taken upon itself to set right the system.

The fact, however, remains that 154 long-distance trains are yet to be provided with pantry car facilities.

^^
It's about time this charge is abolished altogether. Railways are already charging a reservation fees per ticket. This fees is supposed to cover the cost of providing the reservation facility. So keeping this in mind, it is plain wrong to additionally charge a fee over and above the reservation fees.

Also the availability of tatkal tkts is a real pain when trying to do it yourself via irctc. Infact forget tatkal, during the 30-45 mins everyday starting 8 am, it's almost impossible to do any transaction via irctc site. This needs to be fixed yesterday!

Does anyone have more updates on this news/issue below?


http://www.news.lk/home/17629-sri-lanka-suspends-indian-power-sets (http://www.news.lk/home/17629-sri-lanka-suspends-indian-power-sets)
Sri Lanka Railway Department has suspended the import of remaining 15 power sets from India on an Indian credit line as the first power set delivered was put on hold in its inaugural journey itself due to an electrical defect.

Transport Minister Kumara Welgama told this edition that when the defect was reported he informed the Indian High Commissioenr in Colombo and the Indian supplier , the state owned RIGHT Co and they have agreed to put the things in order.

The southern railway line was modernized with Indian technical assistance to enabling to increase the train speed up to 100 kmph. The track between Matara and Galle has been modernized under phase one and the final stage will connect up to Colombo that will reduce the duration of the journey from present 3,1/2 hour to two hour between Colombo and Matara.

The India is also assisting the Sri Lanka Government to reconstruct the northern railway line from Vavuniya up to Jaffna.

"The delivery of first three power sets were made and another two are on the way. I have now suspended other 15 pending the completion of attending to defects that was found." the minister said.

More of the same BS like last year? All I could make out is "expensive" , "local talent", "comparisons to building railways stations and malls"!!!



Indian Railways to build world-class stations
Indian Railways said it would rope in home-grown talent to develop world-class stations as foreign consultants were charging exorbitant fees. Union Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee had in her Budget speech in 2009 promised to convert as many as 50 railway stations into world-class stations.

“Hiring a foreign consultant is a costly affair,” Central Railway Board chairman Vivek Sahay said here without naming any consultant and added, “They charge Rs 40 crore-Rs 45 crore for the job which an Indian contractor would do at Rs 2 crore-Rs 3 crore to design a world class railway station.”

Habibganj Railway station of Bhopal is also included in the project. However, the railways has yet not moved on it since its announcement in Parliament.

Sahay also said, creation of a world class design was not a tough task for any Indian architects who design world class malls everywhere these days. On issues of conversion of narrow gauge lines into broad gauge that falls on tiger reserves and national parks, Sahay said, “There will be a solution to it soon, we will discuss the matter with Union environment and forest ministry. We also want tigers in our national parks.” He, however, did not divulge the details of the solution.

Union environment ministry has objected the passing of some railway tracks projects in the vicinity of national parks like Kanha and Pench. The CRB chairman also said, “There are some other states like Gujarat, Karnataka and Assam where this conversion is to be made, we will soon have solution to it.”


Source : Link (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/indian-railways-to-build-world-class-stations/428962/)

^^ Looks like more BS...till her elections. Her standards of world class are different than the rest of world and we all know that.

There is no way you can "convert" the current stations into world class... Either you tear down everything and build all over again or build another station along the track altogether.

hey, sorry for getting pissed earlier. i guess it makes me angry when people say china is superior to india in every aspect.

VSonline ! China is very superior to India ! You have to agree with this .
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They are superior in putting many of its citizens behind bars for being unpatriotic as compared to India. :D:D:D:

Tang in Chick.

IndiansUnite JI :

Please refer to the following :

I have posted the previous Year Books earlier.

Cheers :cheers:

Thank You Naresh! That was very helpful.

Source : Link (http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/indian-railways-to-build-world-class-stations/428962/)

I guess it is quite true. without the beaurocracy and red tape, indians can be awesome. most of the malls are quite nice. world class means clean, well planned, and beautiful. it does not mean expensive. and indians can sure do that if ever allowed.

Hello, I finally got some bandwidth budget to share my first trip to India earlier this year with you. Many pictures:

http://www.yaohua2000.org/2010/20101222/india2011-en.jpg (http://www.yaohua2000.org/2010/20101222/en.html)

http://www.yaohua2000.org/2010/20101222/en.html

Brief itinerary:

C2036, Tianjin–Beijing South, 120 km, 1st class seat (new railway line opened on August 1, 2008)
T27, Beijing West–Lhasa, 4064 km, hard seat (Qinghai–Tibet Railway, highest railway line in the world, up to 5072 meters above sea level, opened on July 1, 2006)
Lhasa–Zhangmu–Kodari–Kathmandu–Lumbini–Sunauli–Nautanwa by road
Train No. 15020, NTV-GKP, 84 km, unreserved (Gorakhpur Nautanwa Express)
12531, GKP-LJN, 279 km, unreserved (Gorakhpur Lucknow Intercity Express)
12179, LJN-AGC, 330 km, 2S (Lucknow Agra Intercity Superfast Express)
12721, AGC-NZM, 188 km, unreserved (original booking cancelled due to fog)
12952, NDLS-BCT, 1384 km, 1A (Mumbai Rajdhani, 12+ hours delay due to fog and protests)
10103, CSTM-MAO, 765 km, 2A (Konkan Railway)
56961, MAO-VSG, 22 km, unreserved
02779, VSG-SBC, 705 km, 3A
16221, SBC-MAS, 361 km, 2A
12633, MS-VM, 159 km, unreserved (original booking got waitlisted)
12693, VM-CVP, 429 km, 3A (onboard upgrade)
12631, CVP-TEN, 65 km, unreserved
06007, TEN-NCJ, 73 km, unreserved
56045, NCJ-CAPE, 16 km, unreserved
12634, CAPE-NCJ, 16 km, unreserved (Himsagar Express had decided not to come in CAPE, its origin station, as it was very late)
16317, NCJ-CHKB, 3600 km, 3A (Himsagar Express, longest train ride in India)
52472, KGRA-PTK, 95 km, unreserved (Kangra Valley Railway)
14034, PTK-DLI, 484 km, SL (Jammu Mail)
12392, NDLS-NLD, 1092 km, 2A (Shramjeevi Express)
Unknown train, NLD-RGD, 11 km, unreserved
13233, RGD-PNBE, 99 km, CC (Rajgriha Express)
12352, PNBE-HWH, 531 km, unreserved (Howrah Express)
13109, KOAA-DHCA, 375 km, 1A (Maitree Express, international train India–Bangladesh introduced on April 14, 2008)
704, Dhaka-Chittagong, 321 km, AC_S (Mahanagar Provati in Bangladesh)
AK149, DAC-KUL, 2739 km (AirAsia flight)
AK50, KUL-MFM, 2643 km (AirAsia flight)
D7604, Zhuhai North–Guangzhou South, 93 km, 1st class private cabin (new railway line opened on January 7, 2011)
G1082, Guangzhou South–Zhuzhou West, 655 km, 2nd class seat (Wuhan-Guangzhou High-Speed Railway, new railway line opened on December 26, 2009, fastest commercial rail service in the world in term of average speed)
D106, Zhuzhou–Hangzhou South, 937 km, 2nd class seat
G7318, Hangzhou–Shanghai Hongqiao, 169 km, 1st class private cabin (new railway line opened on October 26, 2010)
G7388, Shanghai Hongqiao–Changzhou, 165 km, 1st class seat (new railway line opened on July 1, 2010)
D342, Changzhou–Tianjin, 1160 km, soft sleeper lower berth (CRH2E sleeper bullet train, introduced on December 21, 2008)


Total rail trips: 32
Total rail distance: 18,847 km
Total rail ticket cost: 2021 CNY + 12329 INR + 495 BDT = ~US$590

^^^ i am just amazed you managed to keep the costs so low. i cant even fly domestic from toronto to montreal on this fare.

^^^ i am just amazed you managed to keep the costs so low. i cant even fly domestic from toronto to montreal on this fare.

Flights, hotels, food is not included in the cost. You know, rail tickets in all these three countries are very cheap.

^^Hey you covered a hell lotta distance. am glad you didnt chose to travel by air. You can start your own thread in the Showcase Gallery (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=544) for the trip report, ie if you have enough to justify a new thread ;).

You can start your own thread in the Showcase Gallery (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/forumdisplay.php?f=544) for the trip report, ie if you have enough to justify a new thread ;).

Thanks, didn't know that board. I have created a thread there.

Source : rediff 21/03/2011
Trains @ 350 kmph! 6 high-speed routes identified
Aiming at connecting Patna with high speed train, the Railways will undertake a pre-feasibility study of Delhi-Patna rail route, which would be conducted by a British firm.
"Mott Macdonald, the United Kingdom firm, has been given the responsibility of conducting the pre-feasibility study of the 993-km-long Delhi-Patna route," a senior railway ministry official said.
It would cost the Railways Rs 8.8 crore (Rs 88 million) for preparing the report, which would focus on technicalities, financial and operational viability of the project on Delhi-Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi-Patna route, he said.
The firm has to submit the report within seven months.
"The report would suggest the cost, ridership, alignment, commercial exploitation of land along the route and possible business plan of the Delhi-Patna high-speed rail corridor," the official said.
While it takes about more than 12 hours to travel to Patna by Rajdhani, the high speed train is expected to complete the journey in less than five hours.
The Railways so far has identified six routes as possible high-speed corridors for running trains at the speed of 250 to 350 km per hour.
While the study for Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad route is complete, the next routes to be taken up for similar study are Howrah-Haldia and Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar sectors.
Later on study for the remaining routes -- Hyderabad-Dornakal-Vijaywada-Chennai and Chennai-Bengaluru-Coimbatore-Ernakulum would be taken up for the proposed high speed train corridor.
In order to expedite the work, the Railways is setting up an independent authority -- National High Speed Rail Authority -- to plan and execute the bullet train project.
Currently it cost about Rs 6 crore (Rs 60 million) for construction of one km rail route, while it is estimated to cost Rs 70 crore (Rs 700 million) for construction of one km high speed rail corridor.
Since the high speed corridor is a costly proposition, it is being planned to implement it on PPP model with the participation of state governments, the official said.

Good to hear that they are setting up separate authority for high speed train.

Even in developed countries, it is the business people who form a large part of the clientèle of high speed trains. Generally their companies pay the traveling expenses, so they don't mind the higher charges and time is really precious. On indian routes those cities which involve a lot of business people travelling, that's where the high speed trains should concentrate. India is also quite large in size compared to say some european countries or japan. If the travel distances are large, there is no way a high speed train can compete with air travel. I think Ahmedabad-Mumbai-Pune has potential and also Bangalore-Chennai. The others I'm not sure.

Source : rediff 21/03/2011
Trains @ 350 kmph! 6 high-speed routes identified
Aiming at connecting Patna with high speed train, the Railways will undertake a pre-feasibility study of Delhi-Patna rail route, which would be conducted by a British firm.
"Mott Macdonald, the United Kingdom firm, has been given the responsibility of conducting the pre-feasibility study of the 993-km-long Delhi-Patna route," a senior railway ministry official said.
It would cost the Railways Rs 8.8 crore (Rs 88 million) for preparing the report, which would focus on technicalities, financial and operational viability of the project on Delhi-Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi-Patna route, he said.
The firm has to submit the report within seven months.
"The report would suggest the cost, ridership, alignment, commercial exploitation of land along the route and possible business plan of the Delhi-Patna high-speed rail corridor," the official said.
While it takes about more than 12 hours to travel to Patna by Rajdhani, the high speed train is expected to complete the journey in less than five hours.
The Railways so far has identified six routes as possible high-speed corridors for running trains at the speed of 250 to 350 km per hour.
While the study for Pune-Mumbai-Ahmedabad route is complete, the next routes to be taken up for similar study are Howrah-Haldia and Delhi-Chandigarh-Amritsar sectors.
Later on study for the remaining routes -- Hyderabad-Dornakal-Vijaywada-Chennai and Chennai-Bengaluru-Coimbatore-Ernakulum would be taken up for the proposed high speed train corridor.
In order to expedite the work, the Railways is setting up an independent authority -- National High Speed Rail Authority -- to plan and execute the bullet train project.
Currently it cost about Rs 6 crore (Rs 60 million) for construction of one km rail route, while it is estimated to cost Rs 70 crore (Rs 700 million) for construction of one km high speed rail corridor.
Since the high speed corridor is a costly proposition, it is being planned to implement it on PPP model with the participation of state governments, the official said.

:tongue4:
We all have been hearing these kind of stories for loooong enuf to not expect anything of it, yet hope eternal remains!

:tongue4:
We all have been hearing these kind of stories for loooong enuf to not expect anything of it, yet hope eternal remains!
True. I have been hearing about these reports for a few years now.
BTW this is still a pre-feasibility report and that is where they are stuck for a long time. If they move to the feasibility report then we could say there is some hope.
It also seems odd that delhi-patna route was chosen to be for the pre-feasibility. Though there are probably a lot of passengers who travel this route to warrant a HSR line, how many would be ready to pay the high fares that the HSR services require for remaining financially viable?
And I think this factor may be an issue even in other corridors with similar/higher passenger density like mumbai-ahmedabad and chennai-bangalore.

BIT OLD

To meet the increasing demands of rail infrastructure in India, Siemens Rolling Stock has set up a greenfield facility for manufacturing railway bogies at Aurangabad, Maharashtra. Projects Info gives an insight into the technology used at the facility.

About Siemens: Siemens, in which Siemens AG holds 55.18% of the capital, is the flagship listed company of Siemens AG in India.Siemens in India comprises of 19 legal entities, and the company is a leading provider of industry and infrastructure solutions with a business volume aggregating about Rs 12,000 crore. It operates in the core business areas of transport, industry, energy, and healthcare.
The project: Siemens Rolling Stock (SRSPL) has recently set up the country’s first dedicated bogie plant at Aurangabad, in Maharashtra, spread over 15 acres. The state-of-the-art facility has been set up in technological collaboration with Siemens AG’s bogie facility at Graz in Austria. This manufacturing unit will design and manufacture modular bogies for the Indian as well as Asian markets.
The facility: SRSPL, a wholly owned subsidiary of Siemens (India), has set up a state-of-the-art art bogie manufacturing facility at Aurangabad. The new facility has all requisite capacities and capabilities to produce high quality fully assembled and tested bogies and bogie frames for speeds upto 350 km per hour, EMU, metro and light rail bogies suiting all axle loads and speeds, high axle load locomotive bogies, as well as high comfort high speed passenger coach bogies. The facility is certified for ISO 9001:2008 and ISO 14001:2004. The facility is also certified by GSI SLV Munich-Germany for welding of railway vehicles and component according to EN 15085-2 and quality requirements for welding according to ISO 3834-2:2005. Siemens welding engineers are also certified by IIW at SLV Duisburg-Germany.
Dr Armin Bruck, Managing Director, Siemens, said, “Our new plant at Aurangabad was envisaged, keeping in mind the tremendous growth potential of the Indian Rail infrastructure segment. India has emerged as the preferred destination for us, as we continue to build and bring technology-intensive manufacturing plants of international standards to India. This bogie factory is the first outside Europe and US, and it enables us to offer our customers localized products at highly competitive rate.”
Technology used: At this facility a variety of activities are carried out that range from steel selection, vendor qualification and their continuous assessment, 100 per cent shot blasting of steel sheets before pre-production, 100 per cent UT for steel sheets as per EN norms, laser cutting, welding edge preparation by CNC machines, and seamless welding by qualified welders to meet international welding standards. The welding work is inspected by international welding technologists, an in-house NDT facility and certified NDT operators to detect if there are any defects. SRSPL have designed and developed EMU bogies for the Mumbai suburban services under contract from Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC).
Features of the bogies: These bogies have fabricated H type frame, bolster less construction, TBU for friction brake application, and air springs as secondary suspension. The specifications for this modern bogie were prepared by RDSO requiring speeds upto 130 km per hour with an axle load of 21.5 tonne, which is upgradeable to 23 tonne. The first lot of 18 bogies is expected to reach Integral Coach Factory, Chennai where they will be coupled to the new generation EMUs being built for Mumbai suburban services. The new bogies will provide a comfortable and jerk free ride at high speeds.
Bogies manufactured at the Aurangabad facility offer the following advantages:

1. High operating safety
2. Extremely smooth running
3. Superior reliability
4. Low lifecycle costs
5. Low maintenance
6. Higher running speed for future high speed trains
7. Higher axle loads demanded by Railways-India-Sector">Indian Railways

Indian Railways can’t carry all the freight that comes its way, and won’t let those who can
by K.P. Narayana Kumar | Mar 24, 2011

For those who regularly follow the Railway budgets, the contrast between the boastful optimism of former minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and the candid honesty of the incumbent, Mamata Banerjee, is unmistakable. Take, for instance, her confession on the excruciating shortage of goods wagons. The Railways simply doesn’t have enough wagons to carry all the freight that comes to it for loading. It routinely turns down business to the detriment of its own financial health and the country’s economic growth.

“Rising demand for coaches, locos and wagons cannot be met immediately,” Banerjee gloomily predicted in her Budget speech for 2011-12. She pointed out that the capacity for wagon manufacture was limited in India and even some of the required components weren’t made in the country. Her allocation of Rs. 13,820 crore for the purchase of 18,000 wagons during the year is a record for the Railways but still woefully inadequate to cover the ballooning shortfall.

Why Is it a Big Deal?
For an economy growing at 9 percent per year, freight traffic in India stands at over 3 billion tonnes. And it is growing by more than 10 percent. This means, an additional carrying capacity of about 300 million tonnes must be created every year to sustain that growth.

Moving goods by rail is less polluting and more economical than road transport. India loses as much as $45 billion a year due to poor logistics infrastructure, according to a report by McKinsey Quarterly. This wastage could be cut by half and fuel needs reduced by 15-20 percent if the country fixes its transport infrastructure and moves more goods by rail, say Rajat Gupta and Thomas Netzer in the McKinsey report.

But the candid confessions of Mamata Banerjee do not reveal the way the Railways has been bungling up this national priority by letting the wagon shortfall increase each year. Over the past three decades, it has been losing traffic to the less efficient road transport to the extent that only one third of the country’s freight traffic is carried by rail today. And McKinsey researchers predict it will fall further to 25 percent.

Even more ludicrous is the way the Railways has been blocking private sector participation in freight movement. Billions in private investment is waiting to come into the sector but the Railways, fearful of losing business to private rivals, has been blocking it with an ever-growing list of restrictions.

“The Railways ought to realise that the worst case scenario for them is not losing traffic to these private players but the truckers,” says infrastructure expert Partha Mukhopadhyay.

One Railways, Two Voices
The story began in 1980 when the national rail transporter decided to cut down the loading of ‘piecemeal’ goods like textiles, milk powder, flour, polymer granules and chemicals. The idea was to use its limited wagon capacity to carry more coal, iron and steel, petroleum and other bulk commodities required by heavy industries and energy utilities.

With a focus on increasing its market share in bulk commodity transport, the Railways began to refuse to carry piecemeal goods. On the other hand, it would have been anathema in that socialist era to think of allowing private industry to serve the business the Railways no longer wanted. So these smaller customers had to move their freight through road. Since then, the Railways has been unable to get them back.

Five years ago, the Railway ministry thought it had found a solution to the deficit in its capacity in the freight segment when it invited the private sector to run container trains. A flurry of investment followed. As many as 16 companies paid over Rs. 640 crore as licence fees and invested another Rs. 1,250 crore to buy 96 rakes (goods trains minus engines). Under the policy, they would own the trains, while the Railways would supply the engine and crew. The contract would last 20 years. It all looked set for a major expansion in carrying capacity.

The unpleasant surprise came when the Railways started laying down the ground rules for the private sector. It decided to restrict the private partners from carrying coal, coke and other minerals. It also raised haulage charges repeatedly. Coupled with poor infrastructure, this rendered the freight movement business much less attractive for the private players.

“On the one hand, the Railways wanted the private players to bring more traffic to the rail sector and at the same time, they do not support us,” says a top official at a logistics company. “Many of us have decided to put all our investment plans in the business on hold until the ministry hears us.”

One example of how the Railways’ apathy is hurting industry is the cement sector. Every year, during January and February, the prices of cement shoot up across the country even when there is a surplus in production. “The Railways are unable to send the required number of wagons at the start of the year as there is a massive requirement for transport of food grains and therefore only a limited number of wagons are available to carry cement during the two months,” says Sanjay Ladiwala, president of Cement Stockists and Dealers Association of Bombay.






Read more: http://business.in.com/article/real-issue/the-indian-railways-carrier-of-shame/23522/1#ixzz1HUS2xQYu

source:
http://business.in.com/article/real-issue/the-indian-railways-carrier-of-shame/23522/0

^^ A criminal neglect!

Source: ToI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/lucknow/Now-get-live-info-of-your-trains-position/articleshow/7776620.cms)

Now, get live info of your train's position

LUCKNOW: The Geographical Indication Board (GIB) which was in stalled at the Charbagh station on a trial basis, is now fully functional. Passengers at Charbagh station will get live information about position of trains through this Board.

The GIB, as the name suggests, indicates geographical position of trains anywhere in Lucknow division to people at the station. The LCD Board displays the map of di vision with all stations on it.

Any train moving in the division will blink on this map thus displaying the name of the train, stations where it is moving, it's expected arrival time and delayed schedule, if any. The trains moving in the immediate periphery (around the division's map) will also be indicated through this Board.

The Board is directly connected to the National Train Enquiry Sys tem (NTES). It runs a scroll announcing the position of trains as and when the information in NTES updates.

All trains that originate and pass- through Lucknow division are displayed on it. According to station staff, around 230 such trains are there which operate in Lucknow division almost every day.

The Board is installed at platform no. 1 of the station but it displays information about trains operat ing from all the platforms of the station.

NMR to get three more indigenous loco engines

Describing the first indigenous steam locomotive for the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) as a remarkable achievement for Indian Railways, Southern Railways general manager Mr Deepak Krishan said that three more such engines would be added to the NMR track in the months to come.

Mr Krishan, who flagged off the special train hauled by the first indigenous steam locomotive for the NMR on Thursday, said that with the steam locomotive, the Indian Railways had not only proved its mettle and technological skills but it also now has the capability and expertise to manufacture such steam locomotives and was ready to manufacture them for other countries if orders were placed.

Commending the technicians’ skills at the Golden Rock workshop at Tiruchy, he said that `3.75 crore had been spent for the manufacture of this new locomotive though in the global tender floated for this purpose in the past, companies had quoted up to `40 crore for a single such locomotive whose technology dates back to the 19th century.

He hoped that the second new steam locomotive would be on track in the next couple of months and the other two planned for NMR by March 2012. Deccan Chronical

NMR to get three more indigenous loco engines

Describing the first indigenous steam locomotive for the Nilgiri Mountain Railway (NMR) as a remarkable achievement for Indian Railways, Southern Railways general manager Mr Deepak Krishan said that three more such engines would be added to the NMR track in the months to come.

Mr Krishan, who flagged off the special train hauled by the first indigenous steam locomotive for the NMR on Thursday, said that with the steam locomotive, the Indian Railways had not only proved its mettle and technological skills but it also now has the capability and expertise to manufacture such steam locomotives and was ready to manufacture them for other countries if orders were placed.

Commending the technicians’ skills at the Golden Rock workshop at Tiruchy, he said that `3.75 crore had been spent for the manufacture of this new locomotive though in the global tender floated for this purpose in the past, companies had quoted up to `40 crore for a single such locomotive whose technology dates back to the 19th century.

He hoped that the second new steam locomotive would be on track in the next couple of months and the other two planned for NMR by March 2012. Deccan Chronical

:bash: OMG! In this age and year of the century, the railways have the cheek to showcase their 'technical skills' on having manufactured a steam loco!

-- Delete --

:bash: OMG! In this age and year of the century, the railways have the cheek to showcase their 'technical skills' on having manufactured a steam loco!

Its a heritage railway. So theres nothing wrong i feel...

Tenders in June for world-class rly station

Source (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/tenders-in-june-for-worldclass-rly-station/767876/)
Tenders may be floated in June to make Pune a world-class railway station, said AK Mishra, member engineering, Railway Board. Pune is one of the 50 railways stations chosen across the nation for the project that has run into stagnation due to high costs involved. Mishra was in the city on Saturday for the 53rd Foundation Day celebration of Indian Railways Institute of Civil Engineering (IRICEN), Pune.

By December, consultants can be expected to be appointed for preparing the detailed project report. The inception report for the project has already been submitted, said Mishra. "The project will be taken up on a public private partnership (PPP) model as Railways do not have enough funds. Space is another issue as for PPP model to work, commercial space will have to be allocated for recovering the project costs. We will need to take into consideration the increase in footfall due to it,” he said.

He further said in the wake of a decision by the PMO on cabinet clearance for any government land that is to be sold or given on lease, land related issues will involve closer scrutiny. The decision by the PMO was announced earlier this week in view of the recent spurt in land scam cases. Talking about the delay in the world class project, Mishra cited example of the Delhi plan which gave project estimates of about Rs 12,000 crore that was not affordable to the Railways and thus the project had to be scaled down. "Our priority is more towards expanding the rail network than spending money for the railway station alone," Mishra added.

Mishra, alongwith Prabhat Sahay, divisional railway manager, mentioned about the new foot overbridge to be constructed soon in front of the Pune railway station to deal with conflict of movement. They said the Rs 6-crore project can be expected to be completed in the next two years.

Three railway projects to be over by June

Source (http://www.hindu.com/2011/03/26/stories/2011032658140100.htm)
Three railway projects under execution in the central districts – two new railway line laying works and one broad gauge conversion work – are expected to be completed by June 2011.

The work on the laying of new railway line between Nidamangalam and Mannargudi in Tiruvarur district covering a distance of 14 km is progressing at a fast pace. About 85 per cent of the work, being executed at a cost of Rs. 62 crore, had already been completed. There will be no other railway station enroute and track laying work had already been completed. Inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety is awaited, sources said. The Nagore – Karaikal track is yet another new BG line coming up in Tiruchi division at a cost of Rs. 85 crore. The project covering ten km included construction of seven major bridges and 37 minor bridges will have nine level crossing gates. Tirumalairayanpattinam is the only railway station on this route.

The broad gauge track conversion work on the Tiruvarur – Mayiladuthurai section sanctioned during 2008-09 is in the final stages. The project will enable the people of Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur districts to have direct train connection to Chennai, Bangalore in the shortest route.

दूरंतो कल से

जयपुर & मुख्यमंत्री अशोक गहलोत राजस्थान दिवस के मौके पर तीन दिन के दौरान तीन ट्रेन शुरू करेंगे। इनमें मंगलवार सुबह 10 बजे जयपुर रेलवे स्टेशन पर जयपुर-मुंबई दुरंतो, 30 मार्च को सुबह 10 बजे बीकानेर में बीकानेर-सराय रोहिल्ला एक्सप्रेस, 31 मार्च को सुबह 11 बजे ख्वाजा की दरगाह और पुष्कर को जोडऩे वाली अजमेर-सुल्तानपुर एक्सप्रेस है।

On the occasion of Rajasthan Diwas, CM Ashok Gehlot will be flagging off three trains. These include: Jaipur-Mumbai DUronto, Bikaner-Sarai Rohilla Express and Ajmer-Sultanpur Express.

Expresshospitality (http://www.expresshospitality.com/20110331/market01.shtml)

IRCTC enters into non-railway catering

SANJEEV BHAR – New Delhi

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), an established entity in food catering that has been providing food to millions of railway passengers across the country, has entered into non-railway catering as well. In an interaction with Express Hospitality, Virender Singh, group general manager, IRCTC - West Zone informed, “IRCTC already serves 1.7 million railway passengers per day and approximately 10 lakh meals are served per day. Approximately one crore cups of tea/coffee are served to the passengers by IRCTC on the Railway network. We have successfully taken the catering business of Indian Railways, which is estimated to be around ` 2000 crore per annum, to non-railway segment.” In her budget speech for FY12, Minister for Railways, Mamata Banerjee had mentioned the development of several business-oriented policies, and a new catering policy is one of them.

According to Singh, IRCTC, West Zone has been in talks with leading PSUs and is in the final stages of signing MoUs with these organisations to launch their pilot projects in the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh, which come under the purview of West Zone. He said, “We have formed a fast track team comprising of a joint general manager, assistant manager and supervisors who are on the job, meeting various PSUs and other corporate organisations that have huge canteen/mess facilities. IRCTC is also capable of managing end-to-end hospitality services that would include front office and housekeeping."

When asked why railways' catering is not considered of high quality by the travelling public, Singh countered, "We agree with the public perception. However, it is also a well accepted fact that IRCTC was considerably successful in bringing some noticeable amount of change in the way various brands were bought in over the Railways network during the short tenure it was given. It will also be our objective to ensure optimum use of our professional staff by imparting continuous training and regular induction programmes."

Apart from its massive delivery system on the catering front through on-board catering services, static catering units on the Indian Railway network, IRCTC also mans multi-cuisine food courts, food plazas, food stalls, automatic vending machine kiosks and also budget hotels on a pan-India basis. Singh added, “The main objective of this PSU is to provide a single window-service for hospitality, travel and tourism products. IRCTC has got strength of more than 1500 specialised hospitality professionals and widespread network across India. IRCTC has already ventured out in the non railway catering projects by taking up the hospitality services in various ministries and organisations. As such, a policy regarding Non Railway catering project is already in place giving guidelines to execute these projects.”

It is already catering to Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Agriculture, IIT-New Delhi, Indian Institute of Public Administration, New Delhi, SGPG Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, etc. Also, last year during the CWG 2010, IRCTC provided catering services in some of the major venues.

First round of discussions on ''super AC class'' held in capital

Discussions were today held on the design and concept of new ''super AC class'', the proposal of which was announced in Railway budget this year.
Top railway officials discussed a detailed presentation about the concept, the designing aspects and the features of the new class which promises "improved comfort and more exclusivity".

According to sources, Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee is expected to disclose the details of the super AC class after the forthcoming Assembly elections to the four states including West Bengal.

At present, Indian Railways operates three classes in the AC category such as AC-3 tier, AC-2 tier and AC-1.

Sources said issues such as positioning of this class-- which could be marketed somewhere between the AC-2 tier and AC-1 or as a complete premium class -- along with the fares, were also discussed at the meeting.

Reports have also suggested that super AC could have high-grade seating, many accessories for passengers, dedicated pantry facilities and much more, catering to the business class.

The introduction of the new class would give railways additional sources of revenue generation, and could cater to passengers traveling in the flagship Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains to begin with, sources said.

http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5086422

3 classes of AC coaches?

last time I checked there were 6

AC-I, AC-II, AC-III, CC, ECC, AC-III Economy (mostly discontinued)

3 classes of AC coaches?

last time I checked there were 6

AC-I, AC-II, AC-III, CC, ECC, AC-III Economy (mostly discontinued)



I think they are talking here about AC sleeper classes only. AC coaches having seating arrangement are not considered here.

Rail freight service tax deferred by 3 months

Under pressure from railway minister Mamata Banerjee and concerned over rising inflation, the government has once again deferred a decision on levying service tax on transport of goods by rail to July 1. This is the fourth time that the government is postponing a decision on service tax on rail freight which was to be implemented from April 1, 2010. “The service tax on rail freight was to be implemented from April 1. We have deferred it by three months,” a finance ministry official said.

http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Briefly-Business/768993/

Having rolled out the much-hyped air-conditioned double-decker train around six months ago, the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala has been forced to go back to the drawing board and modify the design. The reason: the bulging coaches are so wide, they brush the concrete sides of platforms.

After much struggle to run this train for tests, the Railways have decided to reduce the width of these coaches by nearly 85 mm (3.47 inches). The RCF, starting October, will commence manufacturing the slimmer coaches.

The 10-coach train — which has eight double-decker coaches and two power cars — was sent to Eastern Railway in October 2010 for field trials between Howrah and Dhanbad. Here, the train could only be run after modifying the platforms en route. As per RCF sources, when the train was run on the actual track between Howrah and Dhanbad, the sides of the train scratched against platforms at various places, peeling off the paint from the coaches.

Currently, the width of the double-decker coach is 3,135 mm. Now, the RCF will bring it down to 3050 mm. “For safety purposes, the train should not rub against the platforms as it may cause mishaps,” said a senior officer.

RCF Chief Mechanical Engineer Alok Dabe, however, claimed there was no problem with the width of the train but with the platforms, some of which are bulging due to regular repairs. He added that since other double-deckers could face the same problem across the country, it was being thought prudent to reduce the width of the coaches a bit.

The already rolled out train, however, would continue to be used on the 200-km long Howrah-Dhanbad route since the platforms on the route had been “corrected”.

Dabe confirmed that a lot of work may be required in the re-design. “Through there is no change in the capacity of the new coach, it would require a lot of engineering and an altogether new design technically,” he said.

Another senior officer stressed that the coaches were manufactured as per the drawings of the platforms provided to the RCF and “everything was perfect”. “But during actual running of coaches, an extra layer of concrete was noticed at some platforms, which led to touching of the train with the platforms.”

RCF’s officiating General Manager K K Saxena, who is also in-charge of Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), Varanasi, could not be contacted for his comments.

Source:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/doubledecker-train-too-wide-goes-back-to-drawing-board/770042/ (page 1)
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/doubledecker-train-too-wide-goes-back-to-drawing-board/770042/2 (page 2)

^^^^^^^^

Let's see if IR can get it right the second time! :lol:

outsource it to Bombardier or Alstom. No point reinventing the wheel.

But is this DD train in service now between Howrah and Dhanbad ? I haven't noticed this on the regular timetable . What is the train no/name ?

HT: NDLS on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Delhi-Railway-Station/110249229025910)

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/9769/ndlp.jpg

Sonepur station getting Rs 2-cr facelift
Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Sonepur-station-getting-Rs-2-cr-facelift/articleshow/7851881.cms)
The East Central Railway's Sonepur station is being given a " Europian-style" facelift with wider approach roads and greenery all around the station premises at an estimated cost of Rs 2 crore.

Sonepur divisional railway manager (DRM) R K Agrawal said the work is being executed in phases. The railways has already provided modern passenger amenities at the station while the passenger reservation system, booking counters and unreserved ticketing system have been given a new look and provided airconditioning facility, he said and added the length of platforms at Sonepur has been increased to accommodate 24-coach trains.

The division has been coping with the load of about 60 pairs of passenger trains and 15 pairs of goods trains. A cell has been set up in the Sonepur control room to monitor traffic either originating at or passing through Sonepur. "Safety of passengers is our main concern," the DRM said and, in response to a question, added the earning of the division has gone up to more than Rs 400 crore now.

The DRM said the foot overbridge at Sonepur has been widened and the southern end of the station given a new exit point. Besides, the circulating area has been developed while a separate path built for pedestrians, he said.

The station's booking office has been given the shape of a steam engine. "We are keen to finish track-doubling work between Sonepur and Hajipur, a stretch of about 7 km, and construct a new rail bridge over Gandak by the end of 2012," the DRM said.

Source (http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=638652&page=145)
Coach factory rolls out jerk-free Duronto rake

PTI | 06:04 PM,Apr 01,2011
Kapurthala, Apr 1 (PTI) The Rail Coach Factory here today rolled out 15 coaches for Duronto Express which will enable passengers experience a jerk-free train ride for the first time.The first rake has a new type of centre-buffer coupler, which joins the two bogies, with special focus on reducing jerks.The 15 coaches are fitted with tight-lock couplers, imported from Sweden, to ensure smooth and comfortable ride on Duronto train which will soon run on the Mumbai-Secundrabad section, Chief Mechanical Engineer Charanjit Singh said.There was a general complaint of spilling of meals during journey due to jerks, said RCF Chief Design Engineer Ravi Kochak who worked to overcome jerks in Shatabadi, Rajdhani and Duronto trains.Kochak noted these coaches would reach Secundrabad in three days and would be put on trial by the Research Development and Standard organisation (RDSO) for two to three weeks before bringing it into service.He disclosed RCF will roll out another nine jerk-free coaches within next few days and send the same to Secundrabad.The Chief Design Engineer said railway officials, who tested it during its journey from here to Secundrabad, today confirmed the ride in these coaches was "very smooth and comfortable as compared to the coaches of Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains." RCF has imported these tight-lock centre-buffer couplers from Sweden to ensure smooth ride on Shatabdi, Rajdhani and Duronto trains. The factory imported 60 couplers with double cushion and fitted on both ends of the coach as these couplers help in attaching the coaches.Kochak said these couplers are being used in the high speed trains in abroad and tested by Research Development and Standard organisation in Sweden.He said bumpy ride is mainly attributed to large number of coaches attached to one train.If, the experiment proved successful then the old couplers of all the Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains would be replaced with the new design, Kochak said.Explaining the feature of double acting couplers with cushion materials on both sides, Kochak said during the acceleration of speed or brake by trains these couplers could absorb the jerks due to its double cushion and would also help in minimising the effect of an accident on the passengers.He said the cost of one coupler is Rs two lakh and two couplers are fitted on both the ends one coach.Dellner Company of Sweden which supplied these couplers has set up a plant in the Chennai for delivering these couplers.

Source (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-01/allahabad/29369766_1_railway-tickets-rail-tickets-train-ticket)

Now you can transfer your train ticket to your loved ones

ALLAHABAD: The next time you book a train ticket and do not travel, don't get disheartened thinking that you have wasted your money. Reason: You can now transfer your ticket to your loved ones.

The Indian Railways in an initiative has ofered the facility of transferring railway tickets to their relatives in case they donot travel on it.

The rail tickets can be transferred to blood relations except husband and wife. If a person is holding a confirmed ticket and is unable to travel, then the ticket can be transferred to his/her family members including father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, husband or wife. For transfer of ticket, an application must be submitted atleast 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train.

In addition to this, tickets can also be transferred to another government servant travelling on duty, atleast 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train.

Tickets can also be transferred to other students of recognized educational institutions when the principal or head makes a request atleast 48 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train.

Railway tickets can also be transferred to other members of the marriage party, if the head of such a party makes a request atleast 48 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train. It can be transferred to other cadets of NCC, if the head of the group makes a request atleast 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train. Such changes can be made only once - if the request does not exceed 10 per cent of the total number of group members.

The person who wants to transfer the ticket must approach the station manager/chief reservation supervisor and submit the application for the said purpose. He must also submit the photostat copy of the proof of his relationship with the person to whom the ticket would be transferred like ration card, voter I-Card, bank pass book etc. Further, proof of age is also required to be submitted with the application.

The station manager would then give the permission and changes made according to the application.

Generally, the reservation clerks do not have the access and privilege to make changes in confirmed tickets. The privilege has been given to a person of the rank of chief reservation supervisor who make changes and transfer the ticket in the name of transferee according to the details mentioned in the application. The chief reservation supervisor makes manual changes in the ticket and gives it to the passenger. The change is reflected in the reservation chart which is made when the person undertakes journey in the train. However, a new ticket is not issued

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HD/2011/04/03/Article//004/03_04_2011_004_001.jpg

Finally :cheers:

Railways Record Highest Ever Wagon Procurements, Locomotive & Coach Production During Fiscal 2010-11

Indian Railways have set new record in the procurement of wagons in the financial year 2010-11 when it acquired 16,638 wagons. This is the highest ever wagon procurement in a single year since independence. The highlight of this procurement is that some upgrades in wagons that had eluded Railways for almost a decade have now been applied for the first time. Thus Railways have not only procured the highest number of wagons but procurements have also been superior in terms of technical specifications. The availability of sufficient number of wagons would help enhance and improve freight movement across Indian Railways thereby accelerating country’s economic growth.

The coach factories of Indian Railways produced 3079 passenger coaches during the financial year 2010-11, which is again the highest ever production in a year since independence.

In a landmark performance, the Locomotive Production Units of Indian Railways also achieved highest ever production of 497 locomotives in the year 2010-11 which include 267 diesel locomotives and 230 electric locomotives. The record out put of diesel locomotives includes modern high horse power engines. The record production of electric engines includes green three phase drive locomotives which have regenerative capability of producing electric power during breaking of trains.

Indian Railways also geared up its efforts in a big way to achieve the highest ever scrap disposal worth Rs. 4408 crore in the financial year 2010-11. The performance on scarp disposal is not only more than the annual target but is also 25 per cent more than the previous best. Scrap disposal is a very long drawn affair requiring tremendous coordination, field work and monitoring. Prompt and efficient disposal of scrap generated with Zonal Railways/Railway Production Units/Workshops not only help in decongesting the work place thereby improving the efficiency/output also significantly unburden the capital mobilization for track works.

The highest ever performance since independence in the fields of rolling stock acquisition/production and scrap disposal, speaks volumes about vigorous efforts, capabilities and dedication of lakhs of railwaymen.

The Ministry of Railways last year took over the wagon producing PSU M/s. Braithwaite Company Limited so as to leverage its purchase power for revival of the company. During takeover, sufficient wagon orders have been placed with the company by the Ministry of Railways for gainful utilization of the manpower and assets of the company. The efforts of the company have been duly recognized and it has been awarded the BRPSE turn around award 2010 by the Board for Reconstruction of Public Sector Enterprises (BRPSE).

As mentioned in Railways’ earlier press release, Railways recorded the highest ever achievement in construction of new line and doubling projects in the financial year 2010-11. Railways has achieved the construction of 709 kilometres of new lines in the year 2010-11, against the annual average of 180 kilometres new lines since independence. In case of doubling projects also, the progress during 2010-11 has been 769 kilometres, which is the highest ever and almost three times the average annual progress of 260 kilometres of doubling achieved since independence. Railways also completed 837 kilometres in gauge conversion in 2010-11 which is again more than the target of 834 kilometres.

http://logisticsweek.com/news/2011/04/railways-record-highest-ever-wagon-procurements-locomotive-coach-production-during-fiscal-2010-11/#

^^ leaving aside the wagon procurement which is good the other records are just because the 5 year plan is ending :cheers:

Rlys seek MCD help to decongest station
Source (http://www.indianexpress.com/news/rlys-seek-mcd-help-to-decongest-station/772346/2)
Nizamuddin Railway Station : To create another access, civic body asked to shift parking

To Decongest the Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station, the Railways have been trying to come up with a new entry point at the Sarai Kale Khan end. However, a parking lot run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is standing in the way.

In order to put its plan into action, the Railways have proposed that the MCD shift its parking lot to a nearby area, which is currently lying unutilised.

The entry from the ISBT side caters to approximately 50 per cent of the passengers coming to the station. To facilitate easy movement, the Railways are planning an additional platform, which will directly lead into the station premises.

Following an inspection of the Sarai Kale Khan entry of the Nizamuddin Railway Station along with MCD Commissioner K S Mehra, Engineer-in-Chief Ravi Dass and Transport department Additional Commissioner J S Sandhu in February, Divisional Railway Manager Ashwani Lohani wrote to then Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta. “The entry area is a mess, and needs to be improved for the convenience of the travelling public. At present, there is a scooter parking area that is operated by the MCD on land belonging to the Transport department, adjoining the foot-overbridge landing. The Railways might want this piece of land to develop a proper entry gate, booking windows and passenger holding area for the convenience of the public. The existing parking can then be conveniently shifted to the adjoining vacant plot of land,” Lohani wrote to Mehta on February 14.

A reminder on the issue was sent to the Chief Secretary on March 18, requesting that a meeting be called for resolving the issue. However, officials said there is no response yet, and with a new Chief Secretary stepping in, the matter is likely to see more delay.

Officials said the Transport department has informed the Railways that the proposal to redevelop the Sarai Kale Khan ISBT has been approved by the UTTIPEC, and tenders have also been floated.

“Since that project will take at least 24 months for completion, if the land at the existing parking is transferred by MCD to the Railways, we can develop this area for an entry to the Nizamuddin Railway station. The plan is to create a hub in this area connecting the railway station to the ISBT through a skywalk and walkator,” said a senior Railways official.

A plot of 5,000 sq m has been identified near the transport authority office for relocating the parking lot.

“The approximate distance of this plot from the station is 150m, which can be linked through the means of a skywalk. Essential services such as washrooms, queuing area with additional booking and PRS counters and bigger waiting halls have been proposed under this skywalk,” a senior official said.

^^ Are they talking about the 3079 blue dabba grilled window coaches ? Coz I don't count that as progress! :D

Finally :cheers:

Dont pin much hopes to it. they were going to de-congest New Delhi station as well before CWG.

Railways to introduce Economy AC-3 in more trains

The Railway Board has started working out details of its plan to introduce a new class of AC travel -- the Economy AC-3 -- in long-distance trains to cater to the needs of the common people. It was announced earlier by railway minister Mamata Banerjee.

According to sources, the idea behind launching AC economy class coaches is to make AC travel affordable for the common people at moderate fare in mail and express trains. While former railway minister Lalu Prasad had introduced the Garib Rath, fully air-conditioned coaches, to fulfill the needs of the common people at the most subsidized fare, Banerjee seems to be inclined to introduce AC economy class keeping in mind the interest of the common people, sources said and added the new class is likely to be unique in design and structure.

A Board official admitted that a journey in this class will be a bit cheaper than an AC-3 normal ticket. The railways is likely to increase coach capacity from 64 to 72 berths in the AC-3 economy class. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, is manufacturing the new economy coaches to cater to the needs of people, he said.

These coaches will be similar in dimension and size compared to normal AC-3 coaches .However, unlike Garib Rath berths, the economy class berths will be more comfortable for passengers. Besides, these new coaches will have the German LHB design and model, sources said.

That apart, the proposed economy class coaches will have more riding comforts for passengers. Hopefully, it could be introduced in July or August this year in a select mail and express trains on trial basis, sources said. TNN

On fast track, RCF claims it’s among world’s top coach makers

With production of 1,602 coaches during financial year 2010-11, the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) Kapurthala claims to have become one of the largest rail coach manufacturing units in the world. Also, after passage of the the recent railway budget, RCF has got an order to manufacture nine Duranto trains and two double-decker trains in the current financial year.
RCF produced 1602 coaches during 2010-2011, including 458 stainless steel high-speed coaches. Double decker AC coaches were developed for the first time in the country for increasing carrying capacity. On average, RCF has been producing more then four coaches a day.

“The financial year 2010-11 had been a remarkable year for RCF, in which it has not only created a record in production but also become one of the largest rail coach manufacturing units in the world,” said Engineer Rajneesh Bansal, Secretary to RCF General Manager.

He also informed that RCF has manufactured 24,166 coaches since September 1987.

RCF expanded its footprint in the African market also and a breakthrough has been made in developing a low cost solution for the disposal of human waste from railway coaches by providing bio-digesters to ensure complete hygiene on tracks, said Bansal.

RCF spoksperson and PRO Virender Vij said that during the current finanical year, RCF will also roll out nine Duranto trains comprising 17 coaches each, including first class AC, AC- 2 tier, AC-3tier, pantry and power cars. These new Duranto trains would be run on various routes.

PRO Vij said that earlier Duranto coaches were fitted with air springs in bogies in lieu of coil springs but new coaches will have coil springs as everytime some changes are made.

It may be noted that Duranto trains were first announced by the Union railway minister in the 2009-10 railway budget and it was one of the most ambitious train projects of the railway minister.

The first coach as well as first rake of Duranto trains was also manufactured at RCF. These are point-to-point trains without any commercial stoppage on the way except a few technical halts.

Apart from this, RCF also got the order to manufacturing two double decker trains and the width of coaches of new double decker trais would be 85 mm less then the already rolled out double decker train last year.

http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/on-fast-track-rcf-claims-its-among-worlds-top-coach-makers/773238/

HT: NDLS on facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Delhi-Railway-Station/110249229025910)

http://img836.imageshack.us/img836/9769/ndlp.jpg

The FB link given in this post does not appears to be a correct one. Whatever features of this page are listed in the news, none of them are found in this link. Looks more like a wiki page.

Can someone in the know provide the actual link?

And why is this a news??? This has been allowed by the railways since last so many years already!

Source (http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-04-01/allahabad/29369766_1_railway-tickets-rail-tickets-train-ticket)

Now you can transfer your train ticket to your loved ones

ALLAHABAD: The next time you book a train ticket and do not travel, don't get disheartened thinking that you have wasted your money. Reason: You can now transfer your ticket to your loved ones.

The Indian Railways in an initiative has ofered the facility of transferring railway tickets to their relatives in case they donot travel on it.

The rail tickets can be transferred to blood relations except husband and wife. If a person is holding a confirmed ticket and is unable to travel, then the ticket can be transferred to his/her family members including father, mother, brother, sister, son, daughter, husband or wife. For transfer of ticket, an application must be submitted atleast 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train.

In addition to this, tickets can also be transferred to another government servant travelling on duty, atleast 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train.

Tickets can also be transferred to other students of recognized educational institutions when the principal or head makes a request atleast 48 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train.

Railway tickets can also be transferred to other members of the marriage party, if the head of such a party makes a request atleast 48 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train. It can be transferred to other cadets of NCC, if the head of the group makes a request atleast 24 hours in advance of the scheduled departure of the train. Such changes can be made only once - if the request does not exceed 10 per cent of the total number of group members.

The person who wants to transfer the ticket must approach the station manager/chief reservation supervisor and submit the application for the said purpose. He must also submit the photostat copy of the proof of his relationship with the person to whom the ticket would be transferred like ration card, voter I-Card, bank pass book etc. Further, proof of age is also required to be submitted with the application.

The station manager would then give the permission and changes made according to the application.

Generally, the reservation clerks do not have the access and privilege to make changes in confirmed tickets. The privilege has been given to a person of the rank of chief reservation supervisor who make changes and transfer the ticket in the name of transferee according to the details mentioned in the application. The chief reservation supervisor makes manual changes in the ticket and gives it to the passenger. The change is reflected in the reservation chart which is made when the person undertakes journey in the train. However, a new ticket is not issued

Railways to introduce Economy AC-3 in more trains

The Railway Board has started working out details of its plan to introduce a new class of AC travel -- the Economy AC-3 -- in long-distance trains to cater to the needs of the common people. It was announced earlier by railway minister Mamata Banerjee.

According to sources, the idea behind launching AC economy class coaches is to make AC travel affordable for the common people at moderate fare in mail and express trains. While former railway minister Lalu Prasad had introduced the Garib Rath, fully air-conditioned coaches, to fulfill the needs of the common people at the most subsidized fare, Banerjee seems to be inclined to introduce AC economy class keeping in mind the interest of the common people, sources said and added the new class is likely to be unique in design and structure.

A Board official admitted that a journey in this class will be a bit cheaper than an AC-3 normal ticket. The railways is likely to increase coach capacity from 64 to 72 berths in the AC-3 economy class. The Integral Coach Factory (ICF), Chennai, is manufacturing the new economy coaches to cater to the needs of people, he said.

These coaches will be similar in dimension and size compared to normal AC-3 coaches .However, unlike Garib Rath berths, the economy class berths will be more comfortable for passengers. Besides, these new coaches will have the German LHB design and model, sources said.

That apart, the proposed economy class coaches will have more riding comforts for passengers. Hopefully, it could be introduced in July or August this year in a select mail and express trains on trial basis, sources said. TNN

And how is it different from the current AC3 economy already running in select trains and in which there is a side middle berth?? Can some one explain.

Having rolled out the much-hyped air-conditioned double-decker train around six months ago, the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in Kapurthala has been forced to go back to the drawing board and modify the design. The reason: the bulging coaches are so wide, they brush the concrete sides of platforms.

After much struggle to run this train for tests, the Railways have decided to reduce the width of these coaches by nearly 85 mm (3.47 inches). The RCF, starting October, will commence manufacturing the slimmer coaches.

The 10-coach train — which has eight double-decker coaches and two power cars — was sent to Eastern Railway in October 2010 for field trials between Howrah and Dhanbad. Here, the train could only be run after modifying the platforms en route. As per RCF sources, when the train was run on the actual track between Howrah and Dhanbad, the sides of the train scratched against platforms at various places, peeling off the paint from the coaches.

Currently, the width of the double-decker coach is 3,135 mm. Now, the RCF will bring it down to 3050 mm. “For safety purposes, the train should not rub against the platforms as it may cause mishaps,” said a senior officer.

RCF Chief Mechanical Engineer Alok Dabe, however, claimed there was no problem with the width of the train but with the platforms, some of which are bulging due to regular repairs. He added that since other double-deckers could face the same problem across the country, it was being thought prudent to reduce the width of the coaches a bit.

The already rolled out train, however, would continue to be used on the 200-km long Howrah-Dhanbad route since the platforms on the route had been “corrected”.

Dabe confirmed that a lot of work may be required in the re-design. “Through there is no change in the capacity of the new coach, it would require a lot of engineering and an altogether new design technically,” he said.

Another senior officer stressed that the coaches were manufactured as per the drawings of the platforms provided to the RCF and “everything was perfect”. “But during actual running of coaches, an extra layer of concrete was noticed at some platforms, which led to touching of the train with the platforms.”

RCF’s officiating General Manager K K Saxena, who is also in-charge of Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW), Varanasi, could not be contacted for his comments.

Source:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/doubledecker-train-too-wide-goes-back-to-drawing-board/770042/ (page 1)
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/doubledecker-train-too-wide-goes-back-to-drawing-board/770042/2 (page 2)

This speaks volumes about the standards and their implementation, or rather the perceived lack of them, in IR. Distance between tracks and platforms is something that should not even have been an issue, especially at this late a stage, if proper standards were being followed. It means that either there is no well defined standard, or the standard is not followed properly.

Incidentally I did not understand why being a double decker should cause this problem. All the tracks are BG, and BG coaches are already being manufactured per some standard width considering what can be accommodated on platforms, as well as inter train distance when trains are crossing each other on parallel tracks. So is then IRCF playing with coach width without any specific reason.

Someone with more understanding of it can please comment on this.

It’s back to square one for the air-conditioned double-decker train project that was to run between Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The train was too wide for platforms, the trains have been sent back to the manufacturer, the Rail Coach Factory, in Kapurthala to redesign them and cut down the width by 101 mm in the lower deck.

With railway minister Mamata Banerjee announcing a fully air-conditioned double-decker train between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, local railway officials had begun ground work for their run, but the railway board has now decided to review the width of the double-deck coaches from 3,151mm to 3,050 mm, a reduction of 101 mm in the lower deck of the train.

A senior official said that the problem is not typical to just Mumbai, but platforms across the Indian Railways and hence the decision has been taken. “Even during the trials in north India, the double-decker train had brushed against a platform,” he added.

As per the railway budget announcements, the trains are to run on Jaipur-Delhi, Ahmedabad-Mumbai and Howrah-Dhanbad routes.

“The body width shall be restricted to 3,050mm as against a uniform body width of 3,151mm that was built for the prototype train,” the review order stated. The lower deck will be narrower than the upper walls with tapering side walls in the middle deck, with a seating arrangement of 120 passengers. There had already been restrictions of not running the trains beyond 75kmp along platform lines for various restrictions, including platform surfaces and roof.

The existing non-AC double-decker train on Western Railway is the Flying Ranee that runs between Surat and Mumbai, but this is the first time that an entire air-conditioned train was to be run in Mumbai at high speeds,” a senior official said.

“Height will not be a problem in Mumbai as we have already begun preparations to raise bridges or lower tracks for the power upgrade project. The overall height of the new double-decker train has been increased marginally (four and a half inches) keeping in view the constraints like overhead structures, bridges, electric traction equipment, platforms etc. so that these coaches can be used without modifying any fixed structures except for clearing some minor infringements,” a senior official said.
Source:http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_too-wide-double-decker-for-mumbai-ahmedabad-back-with-manufacturer_1531278

And how is it different from the current AC3 economy already running in select trains and in which there is a side middle berth?? Can some one explain.

The one which you are pointing to had a middle bert in between the 2 side berths . This has already been discontinued from all the trains. It will be intresting to see how the Economy AC 3 will be different from normal AC3. If the no of berths are being increased from 64 to 72 then there will be some changes in the design of those coaches. Hopefully it will roll out in the timeframe mentioned above .

does ne1 know the status of doubling and electrification of pune-solapur-wadi-guntakal-cuddapah and guntakal-ananthapur section........its really sad for world's second fastest growing economy that these sections which are part of mumbai-chennai and delhi-bangalore resp arent yet doubled or electrified!!!!!

The one which you are pointing to had a middle bert in between the 2 side berths . This has already been discontinued from all the trains. It will be intresting to see how the Economy AC 3 will be different from normal AC3. If the no of berths are being increased from 64 to 72 then there will be some changes in the design of those coaches. Hopefully it will roll out in the timeframe mentioned above .

I do not think that the coaches with side middle berth have been eliminated from service. I personally saw them as recently as in early Jan in one of the Durontos. Also unless they are referring to a side middle berth, I do not see how IR can possibly increase 8 berths in the same coach. I do not believe that a complete design overhaul is in the works here.

does ne1 know the status of doubling and electrification of pune-solapur-wadi-guntakal-cuddapah and guntakal-ananthapur section........its really sad for world's second fastest growing economy that these sections which are part of mumbai-chennai and delhi-bangalore resp arent yet doubled or electrified!!!!!

Not sure about these sections, but recently traveled on Pune-Daund section, and this part is already electrified. Not sure how it is from Daund onwards.

Have you checked the CORE site? They may not be having uptodate info though

http://www.core.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,295,331,561,564
http://10.50.64.48:8080/indianrailways/directorate/rail_elec/re1.jsp

You may want to contact CORE and see if they will update the status on their site.

does ne1 know the status of doubling and electrification of pune-solapur-wadi-guntakal-cuddapah and guntakal-ananthapur section........its really sad for world's second fastest growing economy that these sections which are part of mumbai-chennai and delhi-bangalore resp arent yet doubled or electrified!!!!!

delhi-bangalore is already doubled and electrified. Bangalore rajdhani uses this route.

mumbai-chennai is doubled till bhigwan, and electrified till pune. Doesnt make sense in electrifying entire network. Our top speed diesel loco (3 models-WDP4, WDP4b, WDP4d) make 160 kmph and only WAP5 in electrics is fit for 160 kmph.

^^ Anuj, the route of Bangalore Rajdhani is electrified only after Vikarabad. After which it follows the Vikarabad-SC-Kazipet-Nagpur-Bhopal-Agra-Delhi electric stretch. I dont think Bangalore-Vikarabad via Anantapur-Guntakal-Adoni-Raichur is electrified or was it done recently?

so electrification is the problem why durontos need technical halts. until now i was under the impression that trains cannot run for long time continusely for problems of heating and other stuff....

^^apart from that the technical halts are utilised to get the supplies. (food water etc)

^^
And crew changes as the train changes zones/divisions

so it is theoritically possible to run a train non-stop if electrification is complete and crew is assigned to a train unlike the zones, and for food a pantry car added?

i have one more question: do all durontos have discharge controlled toilets??

so it is theoritically possible to run a train non-stop if electrification is complete and crew is assigned to a train unlike the zones, and for food a pantry car added?

i have one more question: do all durontos have discharge controlled toilets??

so it is theoritically possible to run a train non-stop if electrification is complete and crew is assigned to a train unlike the zones, and for food a pantry car added?

i have one more question: do all durontos have discharge controlled toilets??

The same train drivers cannot drive the train continously from Chennai to New Delhi.It will be risk to the safety of the passengers.

The same train drivers cannot drive the train continously from Chennai to New Delhi.It will be risk to the safety of the passengers.

there can be multiple drivers on the same train so that can be sorted out. we just need to figure out a way to transfer the worn out driver to a sleeping car from the engine without stopping the train (the burning train anyone? :laugh: )

.

INDIAN RAILWAYS YEAR BOOK

2009 - 2010 (http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/stat_econ/Stat_0910/Year%20Book%202009-10-Sml_size_English.pdf)

Cheers :cheers:

Now, a vegetable market on wheels
DNA (http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_now-a-vegetable-market-on-wheels_1532075)

India’s first sabzi-mandi express or Horticulture Express, a dedicated refrigerated train, is set to roll to link up sabji mandis of Turbhe in Vashi to the one at New Delhi in a month.

The project has been taken up by the National Horticulture Board (NHB) after the onion crisis in the country in January, for seamless, fast and dedicated transport of vegetables and fruits.

The train will take the Turbhe-Kalyan-Nashik-Bhusawal-Delhi route to transport grapes, bananas, potatoes and apples and will return via Agra and Surat route. The train will have 90 insulated and ventilated containers which can be replaced by refrigerated containers if the produce so requires.

The Agriculture Produce Market Committee market director Ashok
Walunj said that there were indeed plans to run such a train, but the market committee had not yet received a detailed schedule and exact dates of the run.

“Linking production centres with major marketing centres in the country is crucial. The containerised Horticulture Train between Turbhe and New Azadpur is a pilot project and based on its success, other such origin-destination pair routes will also be linked,” said a senior official.

The sources from the NHB said that the train intends to link up big mandis of the country. The Agriculture Produce Market Committee market at Turbhe is one of the biggest wholesale fruit and vegetable markets and the major fruit commodities there include pomegranate, custard apple, papaya, chikoo and guava. The train will have the infrastructure to ferry fruits and vegetables fresh and subsequently comprise both refrigerated and non-refrigerated wagons.

The NHB is launching the project in association with the Indian Railways and the Container Corporation of India.

there can be multiple drivers on the same train so that can be sorted out. we just need to figure out a way to transfer the worn out driver to a sleeping car from the engine without stopping the train (the burning train anyone? :laugh: )

It is very easy to do that . The drivers will climb to the roof of the running train then they will kneel down once they reach the top or else they will get electrocated . If the train is run by the diesel locomotive they they can show their staunts by standing on the top of the train . Once on top they can simply walk on top and go over to the engine and climb down. The drivers inside can follow the same route back to the coaches. :lol:

or we can have a small cabin and a mini kitchen in the engine itself?

my other question remains unanswered. do all durontos have discharge controlled toilets??

^^ no they don't

Indian Railways' record performance (http://www.hindustantimes.com/Indian-Railways-record-performance/Article1-683680.aspx)

Indian Railways' record performance (http://www.hindustantimes.com/Indian-Railways-record-performance/Article1-683680.aspx)

So my guess was right about the record length of tracks laid in an election year. I wish the railways just told us how much of tracks originally planned for completion in 2009-2010 were really completed.

Summer rush on, so pay more for train seat

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Summer-rush-on-so-pay-more-for-train-seat/articleshow/8001362.cms

We didn't have to find the touts; they found us. The overtures started right outside the auto stands. Om Prakash, the tout who announced his name right in front of a GRP official, approached us to offer his assistance. "Kahaan jayenge aap? Kaunsi train mein jana hai aur kab?" he asked. Depending on your urgency, the price is negotiated. "It's summer time, sir. You would definitely like an AC ride to Kolkata," he smiled. Five minutes later, after a lot of bargaining, we were ushered into a packed first-floor room of a travel agency that goes by the name of a god, right opposite the parking lot. "If you cannot pay Rs 3,250 for a 2-tier AC ticket of Rajdhani Express to Kolkata, you should leave now," said a man over the counter, refusing to identify himself. When it was pointed out that the ticket price is Rs 2,000, we were told they were making a concession for the lean season. "Even 3-tier AC tickets are going for Rs 4,000. We need to pay Rs 700 on each ticket to 'HQ' (Rail Bhawan) to get you VIP quota tickets. Where will my cut come from?" the man growled.

We decided to check out another agency. This time, we wanted to go to Mumbai. "We do not have any tickets for women travellers. Tickets issued in their names are a complete waste. Take a waiting list ticket for help," a second helpful voice said. The 2-tier AC Mumbai Rajdhani ticket, said this man, could be arranged for Rs 3,500 — Rs 1,500 more than the original price. When asked how he found so many tickets for us, he smiled back. "Underhand dealing, aapko nahin bataunga" — a clear hint at the most open secret of the booking clerk being the best pal of the tout. The railways, though, firmly denies the relationship.

We went to another travel agency and settled for a ticket, but our conversation was cut short rudely. "You just asked my friend for a Kolkata ticket. We have no tickets to offer. Take a bus to Udaipur and try your luck," the owner of the agency growled. The railways conceded that there were problems. "There is always a demand and supply problem, especially during summer. We have put our officers at Tatkal lines to detect touts and even sign the first 15 forms between 8am and 9am to ensure all forms are genuine. But the selling of tickets or even their auctioning takes place outside the railway premises. We have decided to use special flying squads led by commercial inspectors and RPF personnel to round them up and try them under sections 143 and 144 of the Indian Railways Act," said Manish Tiwary, CPRO, Northern Railway.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Chinas-rly-extension-plan-worries-Centre/articleshow/8002975.cms)
China's rly extension plan worries Centre

PATNA: The railways is keeping a close watch on the railway network being developed by China near Nepal borders. China`s decision to extend its railway network from Lhasa to Xigaze or Shigates, the second largest city in Tibet, has caused concern to the Government of India for strategic reasons.

According to a Railway Board official, China has been carrying out track laying work from Lhasa to Xigaze. It has proposed to extend the railway network all along Tibet-Nepal borders which could ultimately lead to its extension up to Kathmandu, he said. Xigaze is located about 280 km south west to Lhasa. Besides, China has been carrying out a feasibility study to lay new tracks at a stretch of about 400 km from Xigaze to Nyalam. The distance from Nyalam to Kathmandu is about 120 km only, sources said. The railways is much concerned about China's railway extension plan as it is likely to reduce Nepal`s dependence on India. Extension of railway network up to Kathmandu could also help Nepal to import petroleum products directly from Beijing, sources said.

According to Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) MD V K Agrawal, the railways had earlier chalked out a comprehensive plan to provide railway links between Nepal and Bhutan. The RITES had also submitted a feasibility report in the matter. But the project could not kick off for one reason or the other, sources said.

A Board official admitted that the railways has taken a serious note of the fact that China has been building about 1,956 km long rail route connecting Qinghai province and Tibet across the Tibetan plateau. China intends to build an internal railway network in Nepal linking it to Pakistan via Karakoram Highway and Bangladesh via Myanmar.

Thus the railways has of late proposed to build six rail links with Nepal and three with Bhutan on priority basis, he said. According to sources, the Indo-Nepal routes which are under survey now include six lines from Raxaul, Jogbani and Jayanagar in Bihar to Birgunj, Biratnagar and Bardibas in Nepal. Besides, the railways has proposed to link Nepal from Nautanwa and Nepalgunj Road in Uttar Pradesh as well as from New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal to Kakarbhitta in Nepal, sources said, adding there is only one existing rail link (Jayanagar-Janakpur) between India and Nepal.

The proposed new railway link will help both the countries in improving their socio-economic conditions, said East Central Railway CPRO Dilip Kumar. It will also help in keeping a close vigil on the activities of extremists and subversive forces. It will give a boost to the economy of Nepal as various food items, including salt, milk and fertilizers, could be easily transported to Nepal through the rail routes from India, sources said.

Source (http://www.steelguru.com/stainless_steel_news/Rail_Coach_Factory_to_roll_out_non_AC_stainless_steel_coaches/200540.html)

Rail Coach Factory to roll out non AC stainless steel coaches

BS reported that having produced 1,602 coaches during financial year 2010-11, Kapurthala based Rail Coach Factory, a production unit of the railway ministry, would produce 30 stainless steel non AC Linke Holfmann Bush coaches for the first time this year.

Currently, stainless steel LHB coaches are used only in the Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains. LHB coaches are of superior quality and safer than conventional ones. RCF will also manufacture coaches for nine Duronto trains and two double decker trains in the current financial year.

Overall, it is targeting to produce 1,600 coaches in 2011. Besides, 60 stainless steel shells would be manufactured for the newly set up rail coach factory at Rae Bareily in Uttar Pradesh. The interiors of the coaches would also be done there. In 2009-10, it produced 1,562 coaches.

RCF officials maintained that for the first time in the country, RCF would be introducing non AC LHB coaches for the railways, in addition to other coaches. They added that it had produced 1,602 coaches during 2010-11, including 458 stainless steel high speed coaches. Also, double decker AC coaches were developed for the first time last year for increasing carrying capacity.

RCF also exported coaches to Myanmar Railways, Senegal Mali and other African countries.

Commenting upon exports for the current year, an official said that "We have an order of four sets of 16 diesel electric multiple units coaches from Senegal."

Also, in order to enhance its manufacturing capacity of stainless steel coaches, it has written to the ministry seeking INR 150 crore for upgradation of technology and infrastructure. With fresh capital infusion, the unit would be able to produce 1,000 stainless coaches per annum against 458 coaches. At present, most of the coaches are made from conventional steel, that is, cotton or mild steel.

Mr Pradeep Kumar GM of RCF said that "We have written to the ministry for funding the new project, which includes enhancing the capacity of stainless steel coaches to 1,000 units per annum."

It is worth mentioning that from a modest beginning in September 1987, RCF has achieved various milestones and has now become one of the largest coach manufacturing units in the world. It has manufactured more than 24,140 coaches and is now producing more than 1,500 coaches per annum with more than 70 variants including stainless steel high speed coaches for trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi & Duranto Express.

Further, in order to improve safety of passengers, crashworthy coaches have also been produced here. These are capable of absorbing high-impact energy in non passenger area of a coach at its ends, while keeping the passenger portion safe.

In order to cater to the growing demand from the railways, it has recently enhanced its production capacity from 1,000 coaches to 1,500 coaches per annum with an investment of INR 100 crore. Its wheel shop has a manufacturing capacity of 7,600 units per annum.

(Sourced from www.business-standard.com)

एक साल में कोटा में टॉय ट्रेन

कोटा. सीवी गार्डन से नागाजी के बाग तक चलने वाली प्रस्तावित टॉय ट्रेन बुधवार को जयपुर में प्रजेंटेशन में चलाई गई, अब इस एक साल के भीतर कोटा लाने की तैयारी की जा रही है। अहमदाबाद की कॉडल कॉरपोरेशन कंपनी ने प्रजेंटेशन के माध्यम से अपनी योजना से नगरीय विकास मंत्री शांति धारीवाल को अवगत कराया।

ट्रेन के संचालन के लिए लकी बुर्ज के समीप दो अंडर पास बनाए जाएंगे, जहां से ट्रेन का आवागमन होगा। फिलहाल योजना को अस्तित्व में लाने के लिए 2012 की डेटलाइन तय की गई है। पूरी योजना के लिए यूआईटी ने 8 करोड़ रुपए का प्लान तैयार किया है। मंत्री धारीवाल ने बुधवार को जयपुर में इस योजना के साथ यूआईटी की दो अन्य बड़ी योजनाओं की भी समीक्षा की।

प्रजेंटेशन दिखाने वाली कंपनी ने दावा किया है कि अभी वे अहमदाबाद की काकरे झील के पास दो ट्रेनों का संचालन कर रहे हैं। इसलिए इस प्रोजेक्ट में उन्हें कोई दिक्कत नहीं आएगी। अब यूआईटी की टीम अहमदाबाद में जाकर ट्रेन संचालन का काम देखेगी उसके बाद इसे फाइनल रूप दिया जाएगा। प्रजेंटेशन के दौरान यूआईटी के सचिव आर.डी.मीणा भी उपस्थित थे।

निगम से लेंगे जानकारी: अहमदाबाद की कंपनी द्वारा संचालित ट्रेनों के बारे में वहां के नगर निगम से जानकारी ली जाएगी। यूआईटी की एक टीम भी वहां भेजी जाएगी। वहां की रिपोर्ट पर ही कंपनी को प्रोजेक्ट देने पर निर्णय होगा।

नए बाईपास का अलाइनमेंट भी देखा: मंत्री धारीवाल ने समीक्षा के दौरान यूआईटी द्वारा नियुक्त कंसलटेंट द्वारा तैयार किए गए झालीपुरा से गामछ-गांवड़ी तक बनने वाले बाईपास के अलाइनमेंट का भी प्रजेंटेशन देखा। इसमें किशनपुरा, भदाना,चंद्रेसल व झालीपुरा से इसे थोड़ा छोड़ते हुए तैयार किया गया है। इस अलाइनमेंट को अब राष्ट्रीय राजमार्ग के पास भेजा जाएगा। वहां से स्वीकृति मिलने के बाद इस पर आगे कार्य होगा।

मिनी अकेलगढ़ की समीक्षा: बैठक में सकतपुरा में बन रहे 181 करोड़ रुपए के मिनी अकेलगढ़ की भी समीक्षा की गई। इसकी निविदा प्रकिया आदि का कार्य पूरा हो गया है। इस योजना के पूरा होने पर नदी पार, नयापुरा, स्टेशन, पटरी पार, बारां रोड के उपभोक्ताओं को पानी मिलेगा।

नहीं चली मोनो रेल: पिछले साल शहर में स्टेशन से अनंतपुरा तक मोनो रेल चलाने की योजना बनी थी। लेकिन इस पर अभी तक कुछ नहीं हो पाया

यूआईटी का प्रयास है कि एक वर्ष में शहरवासियों को टॉय ट्रेन की सुविधा मिल जाए। शीघ्र ही यूआईटी की टीम वहां जाकर इसका अवलोकन कर निगम अधिकारियों से मिलेगी। - आरडी मीणा, सचिव यूआईटी

Kota toy train to run in a year. Being developed by UIT..

It is very easy to do that . The drivers will climb to the roof of the running train then they will kneel down once they reach the top or else they will get electrocated . If the train is run by the diesel locomotive they they can show their staunts by standing on the top of the train . Once on top they can simply walk on top and go over to the engine and climb down. The drivers inside can follow the same route back to the coaches. :lol:

:lol: :lol:

On a different note though, how many drivers/people are there at any given time in a loco. Does it varies by diesel/electric. And do they have any facilities inside the cabin, e.g. drinking water, place to sit and rest in between, a loo, etc.

Are there any authentic interior pics available for different types of loco?

Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani train coaches catch fire, none injured

Three coaches of the Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani train caught fire in the wee hours on Monday in Madhya Pradesh's Ratlam district. All passengers of the train are safe. "At around 2.00 am three coaches including the pantry car caught fire between Bikramgarh Alot and Phuria stations in Kota division," Railways spokesperson Anil Saxena said.

Three fire tenders were rushed to the spot and the blaze has been brought under control. The couplings of the coaches were detached immediately by the railway staff to stop the spread of fire, he said.

The cause of the fire, which started from the pantry car of the Delhi bound train, is yet to be ascertained. Though none was injured in the incident Railways has declared ex-gratia of Rs 5,000 for the passengers of coaches B6 and B7, which were affected by the blaze, the spokesperson said. Rail traffic has been disrupted in the Nagda-Kota line due the fire. Saxena said all steps are being taken to resume traffic in the line at the earliest and food and water is being supplied to the passengers.

There were about 900 passengers including Railway staff in the train. A three-member Railways team consisting of senior railway officials have been dispatched to the spot. The officials in the team are -- Arunendra Kumar, R N Lal and Ashish Malhotra, Saxena said. Railways has also set up helplines at Kota, Ratlam and Mumbai to disseminate information about the incident.

Source: HT (http://www.hindustantimes.com/Mumbai-Delhi-Rajdhani-train-coaches-catch-fire-none-injured/H1-Article1-686622.aspx)

On the face of it, this looks pretty much a case of a cooking gone haywire in the pantry car. Possibly some open flame cooking combined with some carelessness?

The same train drivers cannot drive the train continously from Chennai to New Delhi.It will be risk to the safety of the passengers.

Now railways is trying to operate driverless train. If you don't believe see the link for the trail run of driverless train!!!!
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Train-runs-20-km-without-driver--probe-ordered/777541/

Bombardier delivers Central Railway’s traffic management system Project in Mumbai

Source (http://www.indiainfoline.com/Markets/News/Bombardier-delivers-Central-Railways-traffic-management-system-Project-in-Mumbai/5133442160)

The contract, with a value of approximately 4 million euro ($6 million US), is for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the TMS for the Central Railway in Mumbai.

A ceremony attended by leading Indian Railways officials and dignitaries, Chairman of the Railway Board - Vivek Sahai, General Manager of Central Railways - Mr Kul Bhushan, and the President, Managing Director & Chief Country Representative of Bombardier Transportation India - Rajeev Jyoti, witnessed the inauguration of Central Railway’s Control Room for Phase 1 implementation of Bombardier’s Traffic Management System (TMS) Project in Mumbai.

In 2008, Bombardier Transportation won the order to supply an advanced TMS for Indian Railways. The contract, with a value of approximately 4 million euro ($6 million US), is for the design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning of the TMS for the Central Railway in Mumbai.

The TMS will significantly improve safety in the Mumbai CST-Kalyan suburban section of the Central Railway – as the control room will be able to monitor some of the busiest train traffic in the world, on a real time basis. The system manages train arrivals at each station every three minutes, and provides the information for rapid decision-making in case of disruption.

With Phase 1 of the TMS from Bombardier successfully implemented, around 3 million passengers using the Central Railway line daily will receive a continuously updated, minute-by-minute countdown showing the exact train time arrival at the platform. In addition, there will be automatic multi-lingual passenger announcements on the train, bilingual displays at station entrances, and information relating to the next two incoming trains at each platform.

The first installation of Bombardier’s TMS in India was in 2004 at the Western Railway section in Mumbai. It was the first of its kind on Indian Railways and has made a major difference to the railway system’s train management. With the new technology, traffic controllers have been able to significantly increase the number of daily services safely. The Western Railway section is an equally complex route which – on a 60km section – also transports some 3 million people. With more than 1,000 services daily; the system manages train arrivals at each station every three minutes.

Rajeev Jyoti, President, Managing Director & Chief Country Representative of Bombardier Transportation India, said: “With this latest successful delivery of Phase 1 of the TMS in Mumbai, we continue to consolidate our excellent position and provide support to the railway systems in India. Building on our long-standing commitment to India spanning nearly 4 decades, Bombardier will continue to provide leading-edge rail technology and support in this country.”

A testimony to Bombardier’s commitment to India is its Savli manufacturing site. Inaugurated in 2008 in Vadodara, India, the site was built in a record 18 months and involved a great deal of skill and co-operation from Bombardier teams in India and abroad. The site has provided a strong impetus to the local economy; generating 1,000 new jobs and more than 2,000 indirect jobs through the local supplier network to date. Bombardier's new manufacturing site in India was designed and built from scratch following the most modern industrial standards worldwide. Bombardier is one of the first companies in India to use robotic welding technology in the manufacture of car bodies and has reached an excellent manufacturing rate of producing one car every day.

The BOMBARDIER MOVIA metro cars are the very first vehicle type manufactured at the railway vehicle production site in Savli, Gujarat. Since 2007, Bombardier has received orders from the Delhi Metro Railway Corporation to deliver 538 MOVIA metro cars, of which more than 300 are already operating successfully on Delhi’s metro network.

Now railways is trying to operate driverless train. If you don't believe see the link for the trail run of driverless train!!!!
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Train-runs-20-km-without-driver--probe-ordered/777541/

:nuts:

15 loco pilots found drunk in breathalyser test (source (http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1703834.ece))

In what could raise alarm bells for the Railways, more than a dozen of its drivers were found to be in an inebriated state shortly before assuming their daily duty.

Fifteen locomotive drivers found drunk during the routine breathalyser checks in different railway divisions were debarred from driving trains and suitable actions were initiated against them for gross indiscipline and violating service rules, a senior railway ministry official said.

Several of the train drivers caught were from Northern Railway which operates some of the prestigious trains and handles bulk of the traffic movement.

While Moradabad division reported as many as 11 such cases, Lucknow, Ambala, Guntur and Bijaywada divisions had one case each of loco pilots found drunk in the last six months from September 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011.

“It is mandatory for loco pilot and assistant loco pilot to undergo breathalyser test before being booked to drive the train. If found drunk then the driver is not allowed to resume duty,” said the official.

There are about 11,700 trains running everyday across the country carrying more than two crore passengers. One loco pilot and an assistant loco pilot are required to run a train.

“The alcohol test is being done by the supervisor staff and after the mandatory test only the loco pilots are allowed to drive the train,” he said, adding, “Drunkenness during duty hours is a serious offence and Railways take it very seriously.”

Railways use state-of-the-art breathalyser equipment to know the exact level of alcohol content in blood during the test.

“Loco inspectors also carry out random checks at stations as a precautionary measure to prevent the drivers from drinking,” the official said.

Railways have stringent punishment meted out to loco pilots if found drunk during duty hours. While the driver is charge-sheeted immediately, punishment like withholding of the year’s increment is also being given.

TOI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Chinas-rly-extension-plan-worries-Centre/articleshow/8002975.cms)
China's rly extension plan worries Centre

PATNA: The railways is keeping a close watch on the railway network being developed by China near Nepal borders. China`s decision to extend its railway network from Lhasa to Xigaze or Shigates, the second largest city in Tibet, has caused concern to the Government of India for strategic reasons.

According to a Railway Board official, China has been carrying out track laying work from Lhasa to Xigaze. It has proposed to extend the railway network all along Tibet-Nepal borders which could ultimately lead to its extension up to Kathmandu, he said. Xigaze is located about 280 km south west to Lhasa. Besides, China has been carrying out a feasibility study to lay new tracks at a stretch of about 400 km from Xigaze to Nyalam. The distance from Nyalam to Kathmandu is about 120 km only, sources said. The railways is much concerned about China's railway extension plan as it is likely to reduce Nepal`s dependence on India. Extension of railway network up to Kathmandu could also help Nepal to import petroleum products directly from Beijing, sources said.

According to Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES) MD V K Agrawal, the railways had earlier chalked out a comprehensive plan to provide railway links between Nepal and Bhutan. The RITES had also submitted a feasibility report in the matter. But the project could not kick off for one reason or the other, sources said.

A Board official admitted that the railways has taken a serious note of the fact that China has been building about 1,956 km long rail route connecting Qinghai province and Tibet across the Tibetan plateau. China intends to build an internal railway network in Nepal linking it to Pakistan via Karakoram Highway and Bangladesh via Myanmar.

Thus the railways has of late proposed to build six rail links with Nepal and three with Bhutan on priority basis, he said. According to sources, the Indo-Nepal routes which are under survey now include six lines from Raxaul, Jogbani and Jayanagar in Bihar to Birgunj, Biratnagar and Bardibas in Nepal. Besides, the railways has proposed to link Nepal from Nautanwa and Nepalgunj Road in Uttar Pradesh as well as from New Jalpaiguri in West Bengal to Kakarbhitta in Nepal, sources said, adding there is only one existing rail link (Jayanagar-Janakpur) between India and Nepal.

The proposed new railway link will help both the countries in improving their socio-economic conditions, said East Central Railway CPRO Dilip Kumar. It will also help in keeping a close vigil on the activities of extremists and subversive forces. It will give a boost to the economy of Nepal as various food items, including salt, milk and fertilizers, could be easily transported to Nepal through the rail routes from India, sources said.

Here's a response from China that I chanced upon!

India 'worries too much' about China's railway
(source: Global Times (http://world.globaltimes.cn/asia-pacific/2011-04/645575.html))

A Chinese analyst said on Sunday that India often looks at economic and development issues merely from the perspective of security, after Indian media reported that the government was worried about China's extension of its railway network.

The Times of India reported on Sunday that China's decision to extend its railway network from Lhasa to Xigaze, the second-largest city in the southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region, had caused concern in the Indian government, as the network is likely to reduce Nepal's dependence on India. Also, an extension of the railway network up to Kathmandu could also help Nepal import gasoline products directly from China.

The report cited an Indian Railway Board official as saying that China has been implementing a feasibility study to lay new tracks from Xigaze to Nyalam. The distance from Nyalam to Kathmandu is about 120 kilometers.

Fu Xiaoqiang, an expert on Indian issues at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times that India always approaches economic issues from a security perspective, adding that all engagements and interactions between China and counties in South Asia are viewed as strategic threats.

Additionally, the report quoted an India Board official as saying that China has been building a 1,956-kilometer rail route connecting Qinghai Province and Tibet across the Tibetan plateau, and that China intends to build an internal railway network in Nepal linking it to Pakistan via the Karakoram Highway and to Bangladesh via Myanmar.

Fu said China's construction of railways in Tibet is aimed at improving the lives of local people and at promoting local economic development. Whether the railway will be extended to Nepal is not to be decided solely by China, but by the mutual demands of the two countries.

If the railway is finally connected with the network of South Asia, it will do more good than harm in terms of trade and security, he added.

With the concern for China's railway network, he added that Rail India Technical and Economic Services has proposed to build six rail links with Nepal and three with Bhutan as a priority, which will help improve their social economic conditions.

^^ :lol:
___________

Source (http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com/detailNews.aspx?aid=10593&sid=1)

Indian Railways to set up 'Master Kitchens' to provide onboard food
Tuesday, April 19, 2011, 17:00 Hrs [IST]
By HBI Staff | Mumbai

According to a PTI report, in a bid to serve better-quality food on board, the Indian Railways plans to set up its own master kitchens in Delhi and Mumbai within two years. Vivek Sahai, Chairman, Railway Board said, “1.5 lakh meals are provided on trains every day on outstation trains at Mumbai and Delhi. We have base kitchens with a capacity of 15,000 meals only, which is less than the requirement. So, we intend to set up master kitchens. We expect the project to be completed in two years.”

Admitting that cleanliness and quality of food had been below par, Sahai said, “Complaints about the quality of food served in trains were increasing and IRCTC was not addressing them properly. Now, Railways will take care. With such kitchens, we would be able to maintain quality. Food will be prepared under strict monitoring of the Railway Board and meals will be served on trolleys.” Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd (IRCTC), a PSU, is currently responsible for serving food on trains. Sahai further said, “For Delhi, we intend to use the equipment including utensils that were meant for the Commonwealth Games 2010.”

Here's a response from China that I chanced upon!

India 'worries too much' about China's railway
(source: Global Times (http://world.globaltimes.cn/asia-pacific/2011-04/645575.html))

A Chinese analyst said on Sunday that India often looks at economic and development issues merely from the perspective of security, after Indian media reported that the government was worried about China's extension of its railway network.

The Times of India reported on Sunday that China's decision to extend its railway network from Lhasa to Xigaze, the second-largest city in the southwestern Tibet Autonomous Region, had caused concern in the Indian government, as the network is likely to reduce Nepal's dependence on India. Also, an extension of the railway network up to Kathmandu could also help Nepal import gasoline products directly from China.

The report cited an Indian Railway Board official as saying that China has been implementing a feasibility study to lay new tracks from Xigaze to Nyalam. The distance from Nyalam to Kathmandu is about 120 kilometers.

Fu Xiaoqiang, an expert on Indian issues at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times that India always approaches economic issues from a security perspective, adding that all engagements and interactions between China and counties in South Asia are viewed as strategic threats.

Additionally, the report quoted an India Board official as saying that China has been building a 1,956-kilometer rail route connecting Qinghai Province and Tibet across the Tibetan plateau, and that China intends to build an internal railway network in Nepal linking it to Pakistan via the Karakoram Highway and to Bangladesh via Myanmar.

Fu said China's construction of railways in Tibet is aimed at improving the lives of local people and at promoting local economic development. Whether the railway will be extended to Nepal is not to be decided solely by China, but by the mutual demands of the two countries.

If the railway is finally connected with the network of South Asia, it will do more good than harm in terms of trade and security, he added.

With the concern for China's railway network, he added that Rail India Technical and Economic Services has proposed to build six rail links with Nepal and three with Bhutan as a priority, which will help improve their social economic conditions.

Economic issues :bash::bash::bash::bash: does USA have any personal dispute with saddam hussain????? No its was economic issue??

British invaded India does they have any personal issue or enmity with India?????

No these are all economic issue.

So stop keeping India in illusions. :bash::bash:

^^
Yeah, both economics and security go hand in hand and they complement each other. Also you can not have a proper economy if you are not secure, and you can not be secure enough if your economy is not good.

Another story about HSR, this time on Delhi-Agra-Lucknow-Varanasi-Patna route at a cost of Rs. 70,000 crore for a distance of 991 kms in 7 hrs @ 250 kmph.

Link (in hindi) (http://epaper.livehindustan.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HP/2011/04/20/ArticleHtmls/dQ%C2%BB%C2%BBFe-%C2%B4FMX%C2%B3FF-IZY-%C2%B6Fe%C2%A8F-%C2%B6Fb%C2%BBFZMX-M%C3%91ZX%C2%B3F-IYe-AFWXMX-20042011006003.shtml?Mode=1)

BTW 7 hrs for 991 kms means an avg speed of just 141 kmph, some HSR it is! Further the story says tracks will be magnetic. Clearly the reporter doesn't have a clue what a magnetic track means for the train and speeds.

I'm bored now :| :goodbye:

^^
BTW just for perspective, the Beijing-Shanghai HSR is expected to cover a distance of 1318 kms in 3:58 hrs at an average speed of 329 kmph when it commences commercial operations in 2 months from now.

Source (http://www.steelguru.com/indian_news/Update_on_JV_for_rail_link_to_Dhamra_Port/200999.html)
Update on JV for rail link to Dhamra Port


The rail connectivity to Orissa's Dhamra port, a joint venture between TATA Steel and Larsen & Toubro, will be first such connectivity project in the country under the Indian Railways' New R3i policy (Railways' Infrastructure for Industry Initiative).

The policy has several objectives such as attracting private sector participation in rail connectivity projects to create additional rail transport capacity, increasing rail share in freight traffic and making rail option more competitive for customers by sharing the cost of construction and allowing them to get a share in freight revenues to be generated on the new line. However, the policy shall not be applicable to connectivity to coal or iron ore mines, directly or indirectly.
Also, only those lines which are 20 kilometers or more in length excluding siding shall be considered under the policy.

The Dhamra port is located 62 kilometers away from the mainline network of the Indian Railways but the total track length will be about 120 km because of loops and sidings and various additional facilities. The port has acquired a 125 meter wide corridor from Dhamra to Bhadrak which can accommodate two rail tracks and a four lane road along with service lines viz. transmission line and pipe lines. Trains will run up to Dhamra Terminal Yard wherein handing over and taking over of rakes will take place between Indian Railways and DPCL.

Moreover, the private line model will be applicable to it. There are three other models prescribed under New R3i policy and these are cost-sharing freight rebate model, full contribution-apportioned model and the SPV model. Under the private line model, the Railways will share a portion of the revenue (after deducting various charges) with the Dhamra Port Company Ltd. The ratio for sharing, however, is still to be firmed up.

(Sourced from BL

^^
BTW just for perspective, the Beijing-Shanghai HSR is expected to cover a distance of 1318 kms in 3:58 hrs at an average speed of 329 kmph when it commences commercial operations in 2 months from now. i think they are thinking on lowering the max speed on their HSR lines.. the idea being- lower speeds, lower energy required which means cheaper..

Trials on for new fire alarm in trains

Research, Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) of the Indian Railways has developed an automatic fire alarm system to avoid incidents of fire on trains. The system has already been tested on New Delhi-Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express and the RDSO is in the process of updating the technology on the basis of test results.

Experts believe that the technology, first of its kind for the country, can save accidents like the recent fire mishap on the Mumbai-Delhi Rajdhani by early fire alarm.

According to RDSO officials, once the technology is given a green signal, rail coach factories will install it in all new coaches. Already, the Railway Board has ordered installation of the system on 20 trains.

“It is a highly advance fire alarm system, which works on the principal of early detection of smoke in the coaches,” said A K Mathur, Executive Director (Administration), RDSO.

i think they are thinking on lowering the max speed on their HSR lines.. the idea being- lower speeds, lower energy required which means cheaper..

You are right. Current (expected) max speed is 380 kmph, and new (proposed) max speed is 300 kmph. But since it's not yet commenced operations, we can not be sure what the final speeds are going to be.

Whenever copying news articles, it is required (I believe per SSC rules) to quote the source.

Now railways is trying to operate driverless train. If you don't believe see the link for the trail run of driverless train!!!!
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/Train-runs-20-km-without-driver--probe-ordered/777541/

:rofl:

Hopefully - the ancient grilled windowed rakes of our current blue dabbas will be history!!! I've been waiting for this news a long time!!

Soon, hi-tech German coaches in all trains
New Delhi: In the wake of the fire mishap in Rajdhani Express, railways are planning to introduce in general mail and express trains German technology-based Linke Holfmann Bush (LHB) coaches which have fire-retardant quality and advanced couplers.

Currently LHB coaches are being used only in premier trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi and Duronto.

"We are planning to introduce LHB coaches in mail and express trains in a gradual manner as these coaches are equipped with fire retardant material and advanced couplers to join coaches," said a senior Railway Ministry official.

While it costs Rs 1.5 crore to manufacture a conventional coach, the LHB coach costs about Rs 2.5 crore. LHB coaches are anti-telescopic and cannot turn turtle in the event of any derailment or collision, the official said.

The LHB coaches, manufactured under technology- transfer from Germany, have automatic couplers to join two coaches. Unlike conventional coaches where one needs to go inside the coach and move through the vestibule to uncouple two coaches, these advanced couplers can be very easily uncoupled from the outside.

Within minutes after the fire started in the pantry in the Mumbai Rajdhani near Thuriya station in Ratlam on Monday, railway staff uncoupled the three passenger coaches from the pantry. The fire-retardant material used in the coaches ensured that there were no toxic fumes and black smoke that could have hindered visibility.

"All passengers were able to come out of the coaches in time and no passenger was hurt in the fire because of LHB coaches," said the official.

Earlier also Rajdhani passengers had a miraculous escape after the Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Rajdhani Express derailed near Gaya. "The derailed LHB coaches stuck to the ground soon after the derailment instead of capsizing and rolling over as a result all passengers were safe."

Besides the safety aspects, the LHB coaches offer better comforts to passengers.

"The LHB coaches are fitted with microprocessor controlled high capacity air conditioning system, which gives passengers better comforts during summer and winter season," said the official.

Railways have plans to manufacture 3,500 coaches including 500 LHB coaches in the current fiscal.



Source : Link (http://www.zeenews.com/news701569.html):banana:

one question.. the article says that they are going to produce 3500 coaches of which 500 will be LHB. If they have made a conscious decision to replace all coaches with LHB coaches, why is the proportion skewed against them? why produce more of the old dabbas which will be retired and replaced with LHB coaches in the near future anyways? Why not make the investment now and produce LHB coaches exclusively?

Railway introduces non-stop goods trains
Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/patna/Railway-introduces-non-stop-goods-trains/articleshow/8053064.cms)
Indian Railways has introduced non-stop goods trains for the first time across the country. The special feature of these goods trains is that the load combination of two goods trains is amalgamated to carry more freight from one major station to another.

According to a Railway Board official, Railway Board chairman Vivek Sahai has taken the decision to run non-stop goods trains with their load increased from the normal 58 wagons to 116 or 80 wagons. The main objective behind it was to increase railway revenue as well as expedite transportation of freight consignments, he said.

Freight is the mainstay of Indian Railways. Lately, it has been competing with roadways in different states for the transportation of various goods. Eager to carry more freight from different centres across the country, railways has now decided to introduce freight corridors mainly to give a boost to railway transportation segment. This kind of long-haul goods trains will help railways carry more freight, yielding an impressive revenue to it, the Railway Board official said.

According to ECR CPRO Dilip Kumar, the ECR has been successfully running five such goods trains from Dhanbad division on an experimental basis. Three such non-stop goods trains are originating from Barwadih and one each from Gomoh and Asansol stations. The ECR has a major share in freight loading, particularly coal loading from the Dhanbad division.

The CPRO said that normally a goods train runs with a load combination of about 40 to 58 wagons. But in the amalgamated system, it is having the maximum load of about 116 wagons now. Besides, two locomotives (electric and diesel) are being used to haul such a goods train from Dhanbad division to far-off places in the country, he said.

According to a Railway Board official, the ECR has been sending booked consignments mainly coal, cement, fertilisers and iron to West Central Railway, Western Railway and other zones. The long-haul goods trains have proved to be a boon for the railways from revenue point of view, he said.

Bangalore: Train Journey to Mangalore 2 Hours Shorter if on Right Track

Source (http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=broadcast&broadcastid=234302)
A new railway track from Shravanabelagola in Hassan district, which will cut short the duration of the train journey to Mangalore by two hours, has been approved in principle by the state government and union railway ministry.

The additional 67-kilometre track via Kunigal will afford access between Mangalore and Bangalore without having to go to Mysore. In effect, this will save two hours in travel between here and Mangalore.

http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/822/20110422ra.jpg

The proposal for a new train between Shravanabelogola and Mangalore had been put up by former union railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav in one of his budgets. But thereafter since no one from Karnataka appeared to have pursued the matter perstistently, the plan remained still-born.

Besides lack of pressure from down south, there was another road-block. Aviation and brewery tycoon and horse-racing enthusiast Vijay Mallya owns a stud farm at Kunigal on the proposed route of the new track. He has reportedly gone to court and obtained a stay on the project. It was his argument that his farm would be cut into two halves by the track running in the middle.

In August 2010, after a survey by principal infrastructure secretary V Madhu, southwestern railways chief engineer construction Ramesh Pinjari and others and after a visit to the farm as well, it was suggested by them that the alignment of the track be shifted to the southwestern boundary of the farm.

Even after this change of alignment, the Kunigal station would come up at the previously planned location. The team also suggested the running of the track with a 100-metre bridge over an irrigation tank instead of Mallya' farm. This would also save a mosque which would otherwise have to be relocated and also a large number of sandalwood trees.

A meeting between union minister of state for railways K H Muniyappa and chief minister Yeddyurappa along with officials earlier this week is said to have thrown up very useful results in that it has been jointly agreed to lay a track by bypassing Mallya's farm and a detour has been chalked out. The cost involved in the changed route is to be shared by the state government and the raiways.

However, it may not be the right time to celebrate immediately. After all it is a government project. It will take its own sweet time and course.

One more toy train to Shimla

Source (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chandigarh/One-more-toy-train-to-Shimla/articleshow/8061949.cms)
Railway authorities here have decided to start another train on the world famous Kalka-Shimla track from April 30 with a view to accommodate the ever-increasing number of passengers on the waiting list.

The toy train, a perennial favourite of tourists looking to travel on the scenic route, runs on narrow gauge throughout and takes five hours to complete the journey while passing through 102 tunnels along the way to Barog and Shimla.

Speaking to TOI, Kalka station superintendent VK Arora said that during summer, a large number of tourists flocked Kalka railway station to travel to Shimla and the rush of people had led to this decision.

He added, ''We have decided to start the duplicate Toy Train on April 30, which is earlier than last year. Price of the train ticket is Rs 280.''

Arora said, ''We are running five separate daily trains from Kalka to Shimla. This will be the sixth.''

Arora added that the train would only be operated till the time this rush of passengers continued and stopped once that died down, which could be by the end of June.

Works apace in the Madurai-Tirunelveli sector

End-to-end train services powered by electric traction in the Chennai-Tiruchi-Kanyakumari trunk route could be a reality by December next year, given the accelerated electrification works across railway divisions in the State.

Electrification works in the Madurai-Tirunelveli sector are apace with electric loco hauled trains expected to be operated on that segment by the end of the current fiscal.

While the electrification works up to Tiruchi were completed in 2009-10 and train services powered by electric traction introduced on the route, the electrification of the line was taken up to Dindigul during 2010-11.

Trunk route

The electrification works in the Madurai–Tirunelveli–Nagercoil – Kanyakumari section are also apace with the lines up to Tirunelveli and Tuticorin expected to be readied for introduction of electric loco hauled trains by end of the current financial year.

The Railways is targeting electrification up to Kanyakumari by December 2012 that would provide end-to-end electric traction on the Chennai-Kanyakumari trunk route.

According to a Southern Railway official, the electrification works of the remaining stretch in the Tiruchi–Madurai section are also nearing completion.

Madurai yard modification

The Madurai yard modification works as part of Dindigul – Madurai doubling are expected to be completed by Southern Railways only by end of May 2011 and as such electrification works will be over by end of June 2011, the official said.

In the Chennai-Kanyakumari trunk route, the electrification was done up to Villupuram during early 1960s, and for almost three decades, electrification beyond that point was put on the backburner due to financial constraints and other reasons.

Renewed emphasis

However, a renewed emphasis on energy conservation and carbon footprint reduction has led to the emergence of electrification of railway lines and electric traction as pollution free and energy efficient mode of transportation.

In Southern Railway, the Chennai Electrification Project has outpaced the nine other divisions of the Allahabad-based Central Organisation for Railway Electrification and accounted for a record 222 route kilometres of the aggregate of 740 RKMs completed in the Indian Railway System during 2010-11, according to R.P. Udayakumar, Chief Project Manager of CORE's Chennai Project Office.

As of now, the 21,000 RKMs that have been electrified represent only about 30 per cent of total route kilometre of Indian Railways.

Vision 2020

The Indian Railway's Vision 2020 document envisages electrification of 33,000 RKMs by 2020, which leaves the task of completing electrification of about 12,000 RKMs over the next nine years at a rate of 1,300 RKMs per year.

New generation locomotives

The electric traction front has also seen the introduction of new generation WAP7 and WAG9 class three-phase locomotives and gadgets such as infra-red mapping for monitoring the overhead traction wires that have cut down distribution losses. Though there has been a shift towards electric traction, diesel locos continue to do the long hauls in the Railway network.

Besides, some popular trains continue to be hauled by diesel locos on the routes that have the electric traction facility for various operational reasons.

For instance, the Nellai Express alternates between diesel and electric loco haulage even though end-to-end powering on electric traction is available between Chennai Egmore and Tiruchi, sources said.



Source: The Hindu, Chennai Edition, dated 25-Apr-2011 (http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/article1764410.ece)

Watch a movie in Tipu Express

Passengers of the Mysore-Bangalore Tipu Express can now enjoy video entertainment programmes on travel. Thanks to the audio-video infotainment programme launched by the South Western Railways on Saturday.

The infotainment on wheels has been launched in association with private partner Focus Global Innovative Business Concepts. "The concept was introduced in Chamundi Express between Bangalore and Mysore. After its success, the same is being extended to Tipu Express," said B B Verma, divisional railway manager, Mysore division, South Western Railway. "There were complaints against volume in Chamundi Express. We have set it right by adopting a volume controller," added Verma TNN

Trial runs at Chhapra wheel factory likely by July

Work on the wheel factory at Belapur, Chhapra, is going on in full swing. Railways has set the target for kicking off production in the factory sometime in October this year. The trial production will start in June/ July. It will be the first major railway factory to be made functional in Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs 1417.23 crore.

The wheel factory, which will be the second such railway factory in the country after the one in Bangalore, will have the capacity to produce about one lakh wheels of goods wagons, passenger coaches and locomotives per year fulfilling the needs of the entire eastern and northern regions of the country. The manufacture of wheels will be based on US Griffin technology, according to East Central Railway (ECR) CPRO Dilip Kumar. TNN

Trial runs at Chhapra wheel factory likely by July

Work on the wheel factory at Belapur, Chhapra, is going on in full swing. Railways has set the target for kicking off production in the factory sometime in October this year. The trial production will start in June/ July. It will be the first major railway factory to be made functional in Bihar at an estimated cost of Rs 1417.23 crore.

The wheel factory, which will be the second such railway factory in the country after the one in Bangalore, will have the capacity to produce about one lakh wheels of goods wagons, passenger coaches and locomotives per year fulfilling the needs of the entire eastern and northern regions of the country. The manufacture of wheels will be based on US Griffin technology, according to East Central Railway (ECR) CPRO Dilip Kumar. TNN

What is this US' Griffin technology about?? Are all existing wheels based on this technology or is it something new?

Hopefully - the ancient grilled windowed rakes of our current blue dabbas will be history!!! I've been waiting for this news a long time!!


Source : Link (http://www.zeenews.com/news701569.html):banana:

any pics?

Indian Railways took 16 years to construct 20 km patch for 5th and 6th line between kurla and thane , even though the encroachment were only on 15 to 20 % land .

Comparatively METRO line 1 is build at much faster pace , altogether new project ,new stations 11 nos , new line . The work has been delayed of mumbai metro 1 mainly due to govt and politicians hurdle...

We should feel happy atleast a private party has been hired for building the metro. Yes the cost is high , the developer will make good returns in long run .. but ultimately it will be returned back to stake holders but in the other case the maintenance cost in 10 years is more than the actual capital expenditure , also we have to make compromise on quality of construction.

_____________
www.ecofriends.in

any pics?

Nope - I searched. Still, LHB rake designs are remarkably consistent - I wouldn't expect much deviation from the current Shatabdi rakes - at least from outside. The interiors would probably need overhaul - to condition to Indian travel logistics.
But still, would be a great improvement on the current dabbas!

.
Take – do the Talk!

China’s train wreck (http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/chinas-train-wreck/2011/04/21/AFqjRWRE_story.html)

For the past eight years, Liu Zhijun was one of the most influential people in China. As minister of railways, Liu ran China’s $300 billion high-speed rail project. U.S., European and Japanese contractors jostled for a piece of the business while foreign journalists gushed over China’s latest high-tech marvel.

Today, Liu Zhijun is ruined, and his high-speed rail project is in trouble. On Feb. 25, he was fired for “severe violations of discipline” — code for embezzling tens of millions of dollars. Seems his ministry has run up $271 billion in debt — roughly five times the level that bankrupted General Motors. But ticket sales can’t cover debt service that will total $27.7 billion in 2011 alone. Safety concerns also are cropping up.

Faced with a financial and public relations disaster, China put the brakes on Liu’s program. On April 13, the government cut bullet-train speeds 30 mph to improve safety, energy efficiency and affordability. The Railway Ministry’s tangled finances are being audited. Construction plans, too, are being reviewed.

Liu’s legacy, in short, is a system that could drain China’s economic resources for years. So much for the grand project that Thomas Friedman of the New York Times likened to a “moon shot” and that President Obama held up as a model for the United States.

Rather than demonstrating the advantages of centrally planned long-term investment, as its foreign admirers sometimes suggested, China’s bullet-train experience shows what can go wrong when an unelected elite, influenced by corrupt opportunists, gives orders that all must follow — without the robust public discussion we would have in the states.

The fact is that China’s train wreck was eminently foreseeable. High-speed rail is a capital-intensive undertaking that requires huge borrowing upfront to finance tracks, locomotives and cars, followed by years in which ticket revenue covers debt service — if all goes well. “Any . . . shortfall in ridership or yield, can quickly create financial stress,” warns a 2010 World Bank staff report.

Such “shortfalls” are all too common. Japan’s bullet trains needed a bailout in 1987. Taiwan’s line opened in 2007 and needed a government rescue in 2009. In France, only the Paris-Lyon high-speed line is in the black.

This history counseled caution about introducing bullet trains in China, where the typical passenger was still a migrant worker, not a businessman rushing to a meeting. To be sure, there was an economic case to be made for upgrading China’s lumbering rail system: It would free up limited rail capacity for freight trains, thus reducing truck traffic on congested roads. Beijing’s initial feasibility studies envisioned the gradual introduction of trains that would move at a maximum 125 mph, according to Caixin, the Chinese economic magazine.

But Liu Zhijun — part Cornelius Vanderbilt, part Sammy Glick — took over the rail ministry in March 2003 and urged officials to aim for speeds above 200 mph. “Seize the opportunity, build more railways, and build them fast,” he wrote.

Liu exploited the communist leadership’s fascination with bigness and national prestige. Among the benefits he promised was a chance to squeeze foreign companies for bullet-train technology so that China could build and export its own. What happened next suggests that he — and others — also saw the potential for graft in such a vast undertaking.

In 2004, the State Council signed off on Liu’s plan to build the world’s largest high-speed-rail network by 2020. The first leg, a 72-mile stretch between Beijing and Tianjin, would open in time for the 2008 Olympics.

Word went forth that state-owned banks and local governments were to give Liu all the money, land and labor he required. When Chinese journalists found that Liu’s ministry was using cheap, low-quality concrete, creating a safety hazard, the Communist Party’s propaganda department quashed the reports, according to a January piece in the South China Morning Post.

Students and other humble citizens greeted the first fast trains with complaints about high ticket prices. They crowded aboard buses instead. According to a recent report in China Daily, the government was forced to deploy 70,000 extra buses during the Chinese New Year celebrations in February.

This month, I rode the bullet train from Beijing to Tianjin in half an hour — then returned by bus, which took two hours. Next to me on the decrepit, but packed, vehicle was a 17-year-old girl migrating to Beijing to search for work. She had never heard of the high-speed train, but when informed it cost $9, as opposed to $5.40 for the bus, expressed no regret at missing it. The bus driver assured me the girl was typical of his working-class clientele; to them, even a little money is more valuable than a lot of time. Small wonder that the Beijing-Tianjin line, built at a cost of $46 million per mile, is losing more than $100 million per year.

Meanwhile, in the United States, Obama’s high-speed rail plan, originally set at $53 billion over six years, has gotten a thorough democratic vetting. Three freshly elected Republican governors spurned federal dollars for high-speed rail, fearing a long-term burden on their budgets; homeowners in liberal Northern California are fighting construction through their neighborhoods; and the president agreed with Congress to trim current-year spending as part of a budget deal.

On the whole, I’d say China should envy us.

Cheers :cheers:

Well... But still, Chinese railways is way too ahead compared to us!!

^^

In terms of high speed railways and fancy stations "yes" .. In terms of srvice to people and country "No" ... Though I am sick of our railways ministries inability to do anything still it does serve majority of teh people as they want it "cheap and frequent service" ..

I recently took a train in China :
: You cannot book advance online tickets in china
: They don't have centralized ticketing and still rely of different stations quota system

: They don't have enough trains so all trains are super jam packed
: trains are very expensive so people cannot afford it for more than once a year

If you think about railways compare to europe or japan but in a more poor countries perspective .. CHinese system is all dictated by one party and is not always healthy economics nor beneficial to the masses !!

Well... But still, Chinese railways is way too ahead compared to us!!

Actually - if you see my post in the same page - Indian Railway's plans to upgrade all the blue and white dabbas with LHB should take care of the aesthetics and the ugly lumbering giant stereotype associate with Indian trains.

And also, the porposal to build 50 world class stations couple of pages earlier would ensure that the dual problem - ancient rakes and coaches + rickety stations will be a thing of the past - coupled with commuter friendly ticket prices - i think IR will be seen more of a model than anything else

Actually - if you see my post in the same page - Indian Railway's plans to upgrade all the blue and white dabbas with LHB should take care of the aesthetics and the ugly lumbering giant stereotype associate with Indian trains.


the aesthetics wont change until the development of civic sense in the people.

we first have to change ourselves. a guy would spit on the platform, piss on the tracks and return the next day to complain about how dirty the station is. in ac rakes most people would not get up to throw their rejects in the dustbins provided at each end, they would simply pass it under the seat, then how can we expect our trains to be world class. the railway ministry can only do so much. we first need to change ourselves.

we first have to change ourselves. a guy would spit on the platform, piss on the tracks and return the next day to complain about how dirty the station is. in ac rakes most people would not get up to throw their rejects in the dustbins provided at each end, they would simply pass it under the seat, then how can we expect our trains to be world class. the railway ministry can only do so much. we first need to change ourselves.

yeah you are right... but people are changing in india... they now understand those stuffs (though there are some stupids who never gonna change)... it's my experience of last 10 years...

we first have to change ourselves. a guy would spit on the platform, piss on the tracks and return the next day to complain about how dirty the station is. in ac rakes most people would not get up to throw their rejects in the dustbins provided at each end, they would simply pass it under the seat, then how can we expect our trains to be world class. the railway ministry can only do so much. we first need to change ourselves.

Your views on the habits of the general public are correct. But I feel the concerned authorities don't have a good plan to tackle the problem. How many times have we seen a dust bin in a 2nd class coach? And are there enough ust bins on the platforms so that waste can be disposed off easily? Though the poor civic sense of the people does contribute a lot, we are also ignoring that the facilities provided aren't any better either.

Hospet-Thenaighat project may start soon

Source (http://expressbuzz.com/cities/bangalore/hospet-thenaighat-project-may-start-soon/268991.html)
With the Railway Board giving final clearance to Railway Vikas Nigam Limited's (RVNL) proposal to undertake Hospet-Thenaighat doubling project with funds from Asian Development Bank (ADB), a new era begins in the history of Indian Railways as this will be the first railway project in the history of the country to be funded by a foreign bank.

According to RVNL Chief Project Manager Alok Tiwari, RVNL may invite tenders for the project within a month as the railway board has issued its clearance and the ADB has agreed to fund the project.

Execution in phases

This project is a part of proposed Hospet-Vasco doubling project and the RVNL is expected to undertake the remaining stretch - from Tenaighat to Vasco - in the second phase.

In the first phase, the RVNL will lay 245 km of new railway line. In the second phase, the railways will have to lay new line in some stretches as a second line has already been laid in some sections of the remaining 90km stretch.

However, the first proposed mechanised railway terminal in the country near Goa as a part of the project has been shelved. Tiwari said: "There are some land acquisition problems near Goa for the terminal. Moreover, it will become very expensive if we undertake the terminal now. Therefore, the railway board has decided to shelve the project for time being."

Hospet-Vasco route has been included among the high-density railway lines in the country. It connects the iron ore-rich areas of Karnataka to Mormugao Port, one of the major ports in the west coast of the country.

The railway line passes through some of the major stations such as Gadag, Hubli and Londa.

Around seven major feeder lines - Bellary-Hospet, Hospet-Kottur, Gadag-Hotgi, Hubli-Chickjajur, Alnawar Junction-Ambewadi, Meraj-Londa and Tenaighat-Vasco - converge with this railway line at different places.

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HD/2011/04/28/Article//007/28_04_2011_007_002.jpg

^^ similar article from TOI:

Link (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Now-bio-toilets-in-50-train-coaches/articleshow/8104203.cms?intenttarget=no)

Now, bio-toilets in 50 train coaches
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: In a bid to get rid of manual scavenging on railway tracks, bio-toilets have been installed in 50 coaches of various trains, the Railways informed the Delhi High Court on Wednesday.
"Fifty coaches of different trains have been fitted with bio-toilets which, unlike traditional toilets in trains, retain the human waste in the tank which is treated by bacteria," V K Gupta, Secretary of Railways Board, apprised a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Sanjiv Khanna. Different types of nonpathogenic bacteria strains are injected in these tanks. The bacteria digest the human waste and help produce harmless gas and water, Gupta said.
The Bench, which had earlier asked the secretary to appear before it in person, asked two lawyers, appearing for petitioner Safai Karamchari Andolan, to inspect the coaches to verify the claim of the Railways. The court termed manual scavenging and the indifferent approach of citizens towards cleanliness as a "crime against humanity" and asked the Railways to undertake an awareness campaign. "It is the duty of Railways to educate and inform the passengers of their responsibility through pamphlets and posters", the court said, adding that information must be given in English and vernacular languages. It also asked the secretary to communicate with all zonal heads of the Railways to undertake the awareness campaign.
Earlier, the Bench had expressed anguish over the practice of manual scavenging to clean railway tracks across the country and asked the Railway Board why it failed to comply with the provisions of the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act.
It had taken a serious note of the affidavit of the board claiming non-existence of manual scavengers, which was contrary to ground reality. Gupta said on Wednesday that workers did not use hands in cleaning the tracks saying "water jets and big bamboo brooms are being used to clean the tracks of human waste."
The Bench was hearing a PIL filed by Safai Karmachari Andolan, an NGO, seeking direction from the Centre as well state governments to ensure complete elimination of manual scavenging.
toireporter@timesgroup.com

I think there was a big debate sometimes back on this forum on use of alternative source of energy by the railways...well here is some news about them being used for railway crossing:

Solar lighting at railway crossings

Source: ToI (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/allahabad/Solar-lighting-at-railway-crossings/articleshow/8102949.cms)

In an attempt to save electricity and promote the use of solar energy mostly in the non-electrified routes, the North Central Railway plans to install solar panels at railway crossings.

These solar panels would aid lighting at the crossings especially during the night hours. This step would promote solar energy, save money and also protect the environment.

As many as 129 level crossings (manned and unmanned) have been electrified with the help of solar panels in NCR. This includes 44 in Allahabad, 54 in Jhansi and 31 in Agra division of North Central Railway.

In the next financial year, there are plans for installation of solar panels at about 130 to 140 level crossings at different places in the jurisdiction of North Central Railway.

At several places in the country, electricity supply is erratic and this affects lighting of railway crossings during the night hours. However, with the installation of solar panels, there would be regular electric supply, which would help in lighting of the level crossings. It would also offer better visibility of the crossings during the night hours and ensure safety of the commuters. Besides, it would help in conserving precious energy.

Solar panels work by converting photons (light) into electrons (electricity). Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special materials called semiconductors (such as silicon), consisting of a large-area p-n junction diode.

When light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. This energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely, thus creating current (electricity). This current, together with the cell's voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage) that the solar cell can produce.

Talking to TOI, Sandeep Mathur, chief public relations officer of North Central Railway informed that installation of solar panels help in the conservation of energy. "The target for installation of the solar panels has been fixed to about 130 to 140 level crossings in the financial year of 2011-12," Mathur added.

Another news about 'bullet' trains. This is in hindi... for non-hindi readers, basically it says the Planning Commission (PC) of India also wants the HSR to be pursued in coming 12th plan and have sent the proposals to PMO (prime ministers office) since the PM is also the chairman of Planning Commission.

The important diff is that PC wants this HSR to be done instead for Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkota

(Source (http://www.bhaskar.com/article/SPLDB--the-metro-will-bullet-train-2058906.html?HF=))

तो महानगरों में चलेगी बुलेट ट्रेन

प्रधानमंत्री का ‘ड्रीम प्रोजेक्ट’ माने जाने वाली बुलेट ट्रेन परियोजना को योजना आयोग ने भी पंख लगा दिए हैं। शहरों में बढ़ती आबादी के दबाव से निपटने के लिए बेहतर यातायात मुहैया कराने की परियोजना के तहत योजना आयोग ने 350 किमी प्रति घंटा की दर से हवा से बातें करने वाली बुलेट ट्रेन का मसौदा पीएमओ को भेजा है। आयोग चाहता है कि आगामी 12वीं पंचवर्षीय योजना में हाईस्पीड रेल कॉरीडोर के लिए भी आर्थिक व्यवस्था हो। तकरीबन 1000 करोड़ रुपए प्रति किमी के खर्च वाली हाईस्पीड कॉरीडोर परियोजना में फंड के बड़े हिस्से का जुगाड़ पीपीपी मॉडल से होना है।

आयोग के चेयरमैन चूंकि प्रधानमंत्री हैं, इसीलिए अंतिम सहमति के लिए फाइल पीएमओ को अनुशंसित कर दी गई है। यह बात अलग है कि आयोग के प्रस्ताव से रेल मंत्रालय को करोड़ों को घाटा उठाना पड़ेगा। इसके अलावा आयोग ने वेस्टर्न और ईस्टर्न डेडिकेटेड फ्रेट कॉरीडोर के निर्माण में तेजी लाने का सुझाव दिया है। दोनों कॉरीडोर के 12वीं पंचवर्षीय योजना के साथ खत्म होने की ‘डेडलाइन’ भी तय कर दी गई है।

क्यों घाटे में रहेगी रेलवे: बुलेट ट्रेन की परियोजना के वर्ष 2008 में आकार लेने के बाद दिल्ली-चंडीगढ़-अमृतसर और पुणो-मुंबई-अहमदाबाद मार्ग पर हाईस्पीड कॉरीडोर बनाने के लिए रेल मंत्रालय ने प्री-फिजीबिलीटी-रिपोर्ट तैयार करने के लिए अंतरराष्ट्रीय कंपनियों से आवेदन मंगाए और पुणो-अहमदाबाद मार्ग के सर्वे का काम सिस्ट्रा कंपनी को दिया गया। इस मार्ग का सर्वे कर दिया गया। सिस्ट्रा कंपनी ने सर्वे के एवज में करोड़ों रुपए रेल मंत्रालय से ले लिए। दिल्ली-अमृतसर मार्ग पर भी प्री-फिजीबिलीटी-रिपोर्ट पर काम चल रहा था। लेकिन योजना आयोग ने 12वीं पंचवर्षीय योजना में इन दो परियोजनाओं के बदले दिल्ली-मुंबई और दिल्ली-कोलकाता रेलमार्ग पर हाईस्पीड कॉरीडोर बनाने की अनुशंसा योजना आयोग ने की है। यानी इन दोनों नए रेलमार्ग पर प्री-फिजीबिलीटी-रिपोर्ट के लिए रेल मंत्रालय को नए सिरे से माथापच्ची भी करनी होगी और खर्च भी।

सियासी फायदा रेल मंत्री का: तत्कालीन रेल मंत्री लालू प्रसाद ने रेल बजट में जोरशोर से 5 रेलमार्गो पर बुलेट ट्रेन की घोषणा की थी। उसके बाद प्रधानमंत्री मनमोहन सिंह ने भी बुलेट ट्रेन की प्रासंगिकता पर जोर दिया। यूपीए-2 में ममता बनर्जी रेल मंत्री बनीं तो उनकी प्राथमिकता में बुलेट ट्रेन कभी नहीं रहा। कारण स्पष्ट था, बुलेट ट्रेन के प्रारंभिक मार्ग में कोलकाता शुमार नहीं था। अब कम से कम ऐसी बात नहीं। जो काम रेलमंत्री रहते खुद ममता बनर्जी नहीं कर सकीं, वह काम योजना आयोग ने कर दिया। उम्मीद की जा रही है कि दिल्ली-मुंबई के साथ दिल्ली-कोलकाता का नाम सुनते ही रेल मंत्रालय में भी फाइलें दौड़ने लगेंगी।

राज्य सरकारों में उत्साह: कर्नाटक और तमिलनाडु सरकार ने बुलेट ट्रेन योजना के लिए प्री-फिजीबिलीट-रिपोर्ट बनाने में आने वाले कुल खर्च में से 50 फीसदी खर्च में भागीदारी योजना को नकार दिया है। इनके अलावा सभी राज्य सरकारों ने औपचारिक सहमति रेलवे बोर्ड को दे दी है। रेलवे बोर्ड भी इसीलिए दोगुने उत्साह के साथ इस योजना को आगे बढ़ाने में जुटा हुआ है।

Vision 2020 - A Blueprint for Railway Electrification Programme

There's a 20 page pdf document on above from IR at this link (http://www.indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/planning/downloads/vision_2020_blue_050411.pdf).

Interesting read!

^^ Nice find. :cheers:

Bairabi-Sairang railway project report submitted
(source (http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/bairabisairang-railway-project-report-submitted/662721.html))

Aizawl, Apr 26 (PTI) A railway line project between Bairabi, Mizoram's lone rail link with the rest of the country and Sairang near Aizawl estimated to cost Rs 2384.34 lakh has been submitted to the Ministry of Railways, according to an official statement issued here today. The statement said that survey for the construction of the railway line was completed while Forest clearance was being awaited. The 51-km-long railway line, the first inside Mizoram territory was scheduled to be completed by 2014. Meeting of the State Level Task Force decided that the issue of forest clearance be pursued expeditiously by a joint verification team comprising the Railways, deputy commissioners of Aizawl and Kolasib, and top officials from the state Land Revenue and Settlement department and the Environment and Forest Department, the statement added.

^^ Nice find. :cheers:

Thanks!

^^ similar article from TOI:

Link (http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Now-bio-toilets-in-50-train-coaches/articleshow/8104203.cms?intenttarget=no)

Now, bio-toilets in 50 train coaches
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi: In a bid to get rid of manual scavenging on railway tracks, bio-toilets have been installed in 50 coaches of various trains, the Railways informed the Delhi High Court on Wednesday.
"Fifty coaches of different trains have been fitted with bio-toilets which, unlike traditional toilets in trains, retain the human waste in the tank which is treated by bacteria," V K Gupta, Secretary of Railways Board, apprised a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Sanjiv Khanna. Different types of nonpathogenic bacteria strains are injected in these tanks. The bacteria digest the human waste and help produce harmless gas and water, Gupta said.
The Bench, which had earlier asked the secretary to appear before it in person, asked two lawyers, appearing for petitioner Safai Karamchari Andolan, to inspect the coaches to verify the claim of the Railways. The court termed manual scavenging and the indifferent approach of citizens towards cleanliness as a "crime against humanity" and asked the Railways to undertake an awareness campaign. "It is the duty of Railways to educate and inform the passengers of their responsibility through pamphlets and posters", the court said, adding that information must be given in English and vernacular languages. It also asked the secretary to communicate with all zonal heads of the Railways to undertake the awareness campaign.
Earlier, the Bench had expressed anguish over the practice of manual scavenging to clean railway tracks across the country and asked the Railway Board why it failed to comply with the provisions of the Employment of Manual Scavengers and Construction of Dry Latrines (Prohibition) Act.
It had taken a serious note of the affidavit of the board claiming non-existence of manual scavengers, which was contrary to ground reality. Gupta said on Wednesday that workers did not use hands in cleaning the tracks saying "water jets and big bamboo brooms are being used to clean the tracks of human waste."
The Bench was hearing a PIL filed by Safai Karmachari Andolan, an NGO, seeking direction from the Centre as well state governments to ensure complete elimination of manual scavenging.
toireporter@timesgroup.com

i think within the next two years every indian train should have these systems fitted. the fire in the hole philosophy sucks now. we are in 21st century now.

Introduction of Nagpur-Bhusaval Tri Weekly Express via Itarsi

Kamal Nath, Minister for Urban Development flagging off the Train No.22112, inaugural special between Nagpur and Bhusaval at Pandhurna. Kantilal Bhuria, Minister for Tribal Affairs was the Guest of Honour. Kul Bhushan, General Manager, Central Railway, D.K. Sharma, DRM, Nagpur Division were also present on the occasion.

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=TOIM/2011/04/29/16/Img/Pc0163000.jpg

i think within the next two years every indian train should have these systems fitted. the fire in the hole philosophy sucks now. we are in 21st century now.

Only 50 Coaches out of 36000 + 21st century! Shameful combination!!
Sad that most of our trains still drop crap on the tracks in this day and age!!!

cc: Indiablooms

n order to clear extra rush of passengers due to pilots strike of Air India, the Ministry of Railways has decided to run special trains on important sectors.

The special trains so far has been started in six important sectors namely; Delhi - Mumbai, Delhi - Kolkata, Delhi – Hyderabad, Mumbai – Hyderabad, Mumbai – Bikaner and Chennai – Banglore.

While some of these trains are Rajdhani type fully air-conditioned superfast trains having 1st AC, 2nd AC and 3rd AC coaches, the others have both AC and non AC coaches. These special trains have already started running since Thursday.

Railways said it will keep watch on the waiting list of the trains and attach additional coaches to clear extra rush subject to operational feasibility and availability of coaching stock. All Zonal Railways have been directed to take necessary steps to clear extra rush.

The Public Relations offices and commercial offices of respective Zonal Railways have started disseminating information about the detailed time-table of these special trains.

Air India has also been requested to make announcements for the benefit of the passengers. These trains are available on PRS system for booking.

Meanwhile, Air India (AI) management has reportedly given an ultimatum to the striking pilots to either resume work by 5 pm on Friday or get sacked.

However, the pilots have not succumbed to the threat and said they don’t want to work in a hostile environment.

A mere 50 of the scheduled 320 flights will fly on Friday even as a strike by nearly 700 pilots demanding pay reforms on Thursday forced flag carrier Air India to announce that it will not accept any bookings till May 3, reports said.

Air India management decided to play it hard and fired two more pilots on Thursday bringing the toll to eight, as Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi reiterated his promise of backing their decision.

At least 40 pilots roped in by Air India to substitute the nearly 700 pilots on strike demanding pay reforms joined the protest ‘unofficially’ on Thursday, media reports said, as the boycott entered the second day in direct confrontation with a court order.

Around 80 flights were cancelled on Thursday. The scene grew only grimmer on Friday as reports said 12 out of 56 flights will fly out of Mumbai and only 15 of 66 flights out of Delhi will take off.

The company has also deployed special flights from its low-cost carrier arm Air India Express.

Meanwhile, the pilots, who began their protest on Wednesday, defied the Delhi High Court’s order of calling off the strike and received an earful for it on Thursday. They announced they would now move to the Supreme Court to get their demands met.

“We will go to the Supreme Court against the high court order,” said the striking pilots at a press conference.

“We apologise for causing inconvenience to our passengers. We are not responsible for flight cancellations. But we can’t withdraw our strike until our demands are met,” said the pilots.

“Corruption at management level should be removed and pay of all Air India pilots should be uniform. We want parity in working conditions,” they said.

The pilots, most of them from the domestic carrier Indian which completed its merger with Air India earlier this year, demand a similar pay structure to AI personnel which includes a larger fixed salary component.

They allege their salaries are getting hit by their largely variable pay structure, which is based on the number of flights, since the management was under-utilising the loss-making airline’s fleet and personnel and had cut down flights by 30 to 40 percent.

But the Delhi High court slammed the protesting pilots for the direct disobedience of its order. At the hearing of the case, a lawyer representing the pilots said that they would not be able to fly aircrafts whilst in "such a disturbed mental state".

The court, however, trashed the excuse saying, "If you come down to this level, no court of the country will accept your defence. You have the right to challenge the order, but you have no right to defy it."

Air India management retaliated by sacking eight pilots, derecognising the union Indian Commercial Pilot's Association (ICPA) and sealing its offices. It said the strike wasn’t legal since the union had promised the Delhi High Court that it wouldn’t stop work.

“Striking pilots are behaving in an irrational manner, especially at a time when the airline is in such a financial trouble,” said Civil Aviation Minister Vayalar Ravi said on Wednesday, adding that it was an unfair demand put forward by people who already have salaries over Rs 2 lakhs a month.

“Pilots can’t dictate terms to Air India,” said the Minister, promising to back any decision the management took over resolving the conflict. Air India on Wednesday said it had decided to rope in 150 executive pilots to soften the blow from the personnel-shortage.

^^

In terms of high speed railways and fancy stations "yes" .. In terms of srvice to people and country "No" ... Though I am sick of our railways ministries inability to do anything still it does serve majority of teh people as they want it "cheap and frequent service" ..

I recently took a train in China :
: You cannot book advance online tickets in china
: They don't have centralized ticketing and still rely of different stations quota system

This is not true. China Railways does have a centralized ticketing system called TRS (Ticketing and Reservation System), first released in 1996, current at its version 5.2. It is technically can do this kind of ticketing but due to the human reasons they don't use this system in that way.

: They don't have enough trains so all trains are super jam packed
: trains are very expensive so people cannot afford it for more than once a year

Trains are slightly more expensive than India's, but the quality is also a lot better. I think it worth the money. Every year I take 100+ train rides in China, and I am not among the rich. How did you say people can't afford it? If people can't afford it, how can they "super jam packed"?

This is not true. China Railways does have a centralized ticketing system called TRS (Ticketing and Reservation System), first released in 1996, current at its version 5.2. It is technically can do this kind of ticketing but due to the human reasons they don't use this system in that way.

Trains are slightly more expensive than India's, but the quality is also a lot better. I think it worth the money. Every year I take 100+ train rides in China, and I am not among the rich. How did you say people can't afford it? If people can't afford it, how can they "super jam packed"?

yaohua2000 Sir :

Please advise us of the types of "Classes" on Long Distance (not commuter) Chinese Trains and sample fares for each class i.e. from Shanghai to Beijing.

I think on Indian Railways we have Three Air Conditioned Classes, Two Chair Car Classes and Two Non-Air Conditioned Classes.

Then we can make a comparison of the "Fares"

Cheers :cheers:

yaohua2000 Sir :

Please advise us of the types of "Classes" on Long Distance (not commuter) Chinese Trains and sample fares for each class i.e. from Shanghai to Beijing.

I think on Indian Railways we have Three Air Conditioned Classes, Two Chair Car Classes and Two Non-Air Conditioned Classes.

Then we can make a comparison of the "Fares"

Cheers :cheers:

Let me introduce you some background:

Chinese trains use single fare structure, the last time the base fare updated was in 1995. Since then, train fare has not been increased due to the Ministry of Railways' “increasing speed but not the price” policy between 1997 and 2004. The policy is getting more and more criticize recently because it is against the basic economic discipline. I read from somewhere Indian Railways is also trying to increase the speed but keep the price low. I have to say this is the most stupid thing the ministry had done. It has become so low over years. But it is very hard to increase the base fare due to the legal and political reasons. Technically speaking, the Ministry of Railways itself have no right to set a train's price.

For normal non-bullet trains, the top-quality Z-series trains introduced in 2004 had to price the same as the slow and poor K-series trains which were introduced in 1997. In 1997, K-series was still brand new, but after seven years in 2004, it became dirt old and poor quality. But the new Z-series trains have to set the same price because the policy. To avoid the obvious lose, the ministry made most Z-series trains soft sleeper only, that is, in IR's language, the whole train only have AC First class.

Three years later, in 2007, China was ready to introduce its bullet train system. The same problem also affects the new bullet train. The former minister, Mr. Liu, who was in office since 2003, until February 2011, thus tried to get around the situation by calling the bullet train “new railway product”. A “new railway product” may have a new fare standard. On a normal train, a 3+2 seat arrangement is called a “hard seat” no matter whether the seat is hard or not. On this “new railway product”, They don't call a 3+2 seat a “hard seat”, because a hard seat has to have a hard seat price. They called it a “2nd class soft seat”. By renaming these travel classes, the minister can set a higher price for the new trains.

The "1st class" and "2nd class" on bullet trains was officially introduced on April 18, 2007, to set a new price, the minister must ask for a formal public hearing. But there were little hope to set a price a lot higher than non-CRH trains back in 2007, so they didn't do that, instead, they found an old file, File No. [1997] 1068 issued on June 23, 1997, from National Development and Reform Commission, an organization has the right to set the price. The Chinese full text can be found at: http://www.sdpc.gov.cn/zcfb/zcfbtz/tz2003/t20090512_278171.htm

This file says, the ministry would introduce the new 25K type train coaches on some routes in 1997, and the price should be set as blah blah blah... For trains travel speed exceeded 110 km/h, the second class soft seat's base fare should be ¥0.2805/km, for those slower than 110 km/h, it should be ¥0.2330/km. In the last paragraph, it also gave the ministry the right to float the price by +/- 10% in respond the market. So the D-series bullet train's 2nd class seat was finally set to (¥0.2805 * 110%)=¥0.30855/km. That how the bullet trains' price was set — from a file issued 10 years ago. For technical details, see Wikipedia at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fare_of_passenger_trains_in_China

Next, let me tell you the price between Beijing and Shanghai:

Beijing to Shanghai, the rail distance is 1463 km, slightly longer than Delhi–Mumbai. Fare for non-bullet Z-series trains introduced in 2004 (retired in 2008):
* Soft sleeper lower berth (comparable with AC First): ¥499 (~ 3402 rupees), upper berth slightly cheaper at ¥478
* Hard sleeper (comparable with 2A or 3A): N/A
* Soft seat (CC): ¥283, only found on some trains
* Hard seat (2S with AC): N/A
* Single trip time: 11 hours, 58 minutes

Older T-series (introduced in October 2000, still serving this line as of 2011, but bad time, depart 10pm arrive 11am, not recommended):
* Deluxe sleeper (2-person room with an additional armchair and private toilet, no hot water for a shower), each bed: ¥881 (upper) / ¥921 (lower)
* Soft sleeper: ¥478/¥499 (same with Z-series)
* Hard sleeper: ¥306 (upper) / ¥317 (middle) / ¥327 (lower)
* Soft seat: N/A
* Hard seat: ¥179
* Single trip time: 13–14 hours

Normal trains (train number 1461, Non-AC until 2010, now with AC):
* Soft sleeper: N/A
* Hard sleeper: ¥285/¥296/¥306
* Hard seat: ¥158
* Before 2010, a hard seat costed ¥88 without A/C
* Single trip time: 22 hours

New D-series bullet trains:
* First class seat (2+2): ¥409, only on day-time trains
* Second class seat (2+3): ¥327
* Soft sleeper: ¥655/¥730, with private LCD television for each bed, but no free dinner is served
* Deluxe sleeper (2-person room), each bed: ¥1300/¥1470, with a public meeting room, no private toilet
* These are actually officially "discounted prices" because the trains are using upgraded pre-existing railways. Normal price can be worked out using the formula (see the Wikipedia link above). It is reported a student ticket (75% pre-discounted price) was higher than ¥327.
* Single trip time: 9 hours, 49 minutes (4 intermediate stops) or 9 hours, 54 minutes (5 intermediate stops)

China Railways doesn't have Unreserved coach or SL-like sleepers. Seatless passengers just stand in hard seat coaches. Also unlike IR, where SL is dirt cheap. The non-AC hard sleepers are the cheapest sleepers in CR. They have beddings provided. But at the distance between Beijing and Shanghai, it is estimated to cost around ¥150 to ¥170 if there is one. You can work it out on your own using Wikipedia's formula. As for services, I see no services on IR either, except for AC First passengers.

I think the price of Z-series trains is comparable with Indian Railways, or even cheaper. The bullet train is only slightly more expensive than an AC First on Rajdhani.

^^ The Z series train Soft seat is way higher priced than Rajdhani's 3A(third AC) and to compare the fares= Rajdhani's 3A is Rs 1495/ ¥219 which is comparable to Hard seat of Normal trains or hard seat of Older T-series...

the cheapest AC ticket on IR for mumbai to delhi(1366km) is Rs 667/ ¥98 of Garib Rath 3A which provides basic facilities(AC) and takes 16 hrs which is at least 60% cheaper than the cheapest ticket of CR for beijing-shanghai.. also the chair class(CC) of this garib rath is Rs 552/ ¥80 which is cheaper than even earlier hard seat of normal train of CR...

and the cheapest ticket for Mumbai Delhi(which is sleeper class and has no facilities at all) and takes 30 hours is Dehradun express which is Rs 373/ ¥55 and you will find at least 10 sleeper classes which are less than Rs 440/ ¥65..

and the bullet train fare is way too high it is almost 30% more than the air fare between mumbai and delhi and is not at all feasible for India IMO.

Only 50 Coaches out of 36000 + 21st century! Shameful combination!!
Sad that most of our trains still drop crap on the tracks in this day and age!!!


Not only that, IR still has the disgusting practice of using human beings to manually remove the crap from the tracks. IR should give high priority to put an end to this abomination. If we can grow our cellphone user base from practically nothing to over half a billion in a decade, why can't IR completely upgrade all the coaches with these chemical toilets in a year or two? Apparently the poor folks who do this dirty work have been asking for mechanized solutions (high speed water jets etc.) for years but obviously don't have a lobby fighting for them. We should collectively hang our heads in shame that this thing is still happening. It is incongruous that we are discussing the merits and demerits of a 21st century technology for IR while they are still quite content with a medieval practice.

^^ The Z series train Soft seat is way higher priced than Rajdhani's 3A(third AC) and to compare the fares= Rajdhani's 3A is Rs 1495/ ¥219 which is comparable to Hard seat of Normal trains or hard seat of Older T-series...

the cheapest AC ticket on IR for mumbai to delhi(1366km) is Rs 667/ ¥98 of Garib Rath 3A which provides basic facilities(AC) and takes 16 hrs which is at least 60% cheaper than the cheapest ticket of CR for beijing-shanghai.. also the chair class(CC) of this garib rath is Rs 552/ ¥80 which is cheaper than even earlier hard seat of normal train of CR...

and the cheapest ticket for Mumbai Delhi(which is sleeper class and has no facilities at all) and takes 30 hours is Dehradun express which is Rs 373/ ¥55 and you will find at least 10 sleeper classes which are less than Rs 440/ ¥65..

and the bullet train fare is way too high it is almost 30% more than the air fare between mumbai and delhi and is not at all feasible for India IMO.

Perhaps AC First is over priced on IR then. Last time I travelled on Mumbai Rajdhani, I paid like Rs. 3400, which is about the same price of a soft sleeper from Beijing to Shanghai.

^ yup that may be a possibility because there are many takers for it and the seats are less.. simple demand and supply scenario.. if they increase it to Rs 4000 still there will be takers for it!

Let me introduce you some background:

I think the price of Z-series trains is comparable with Indian Railways, or even cheaper. The bullet train is only slightly more expensive than an AC First on Rajdhani.

yaohua2000 Ji :

Many thanks for the detailed information.

I am sure that China Railways will, in the very near future, be forced to raise the Fares of every class of accommodation as well as type of Trains.

The end result will be Chaina Railways Passenger Services being costier than their Indian counterparts.

The Indian Railway Fare structure uses the First Class Air Conditioned well as non-Airconditioned Fares, which are quite high, along with Freight Earnings to subsidise the Lower Air Conditioned as well as Non-Air Conditioned Class Fares for the Ordinary Indian.

Cheers :cheers:

Perhaps AC First is over priced on IR then. Last time I travelled on Mumbai Rajdhani, I paid like Rs. 3400, which is about the same price of a soft sleeper from Beijing to Shanghai.


AC first has many facilities. but yes it shouldnt be something like 8 times sleeper charges. 5 times SL charges is OK

BTW forget dehradun express. thats one cattle-class train. U can travel in an unresvd compartment for half the fare of SL class. for DDN exp it turns to be 133 Rs or so..... tell me any other place on the planet where u can travel 1360 km in 133 Rs (or around 3$)

BTW forget dehradun express. thats one cattle-class train. U can travel in an unresvd compartment for half the fare of SL class. for DDN exp it turns to be 133 Rs or so..... tell me any other place on the planet where u can travel 1360 km in 133 Rs (or around 3$)

:lol: i didn't know that... it is ultra ultra cheap!

Source (http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=5146517)
Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani to soon have Wi-Fi facility

New Delhi, May 1 (PTI) The Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani is set to become the first train in India to have Wi-Fi connectivity that would enable passengers to access internet during their rail journey.

Railways have awarded the Rs 5.3 crore contract for making equipping three rakes of the Delhi-Howrah-Delhi Rajdhani with the facility.

While the satellite link-up cost is more than Rs 1 crore, it would cost about Rs 4 crore for the equipment to facilitate internet access, a senior Railway Ministry official said.

Internet facility is expected to be fully operational in two months.

Besides the Howrah Rajdhani, the Railways have plans to equip other Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains with Wi-Fi facility in the future.
"The trials conducted in Mumbai-Ahmedabad Shatabdi Express in January was found to be successful. So the proposal to provide internet on selected trains is being implemented," the official said.

A Rajdhani passenger has to get a password from the TTE for accessing the internet on a laptop. "The password will be passed on to the passenger through SMS on his mobile phone," the official said.

Railways, however, have not decided whether the facility will be provided free of cost or would be a paid service.

"We are sure both business travellers and commuters would be interested in using wireless services on trains," the official said

http://images.mathrubhumi.com/english_images/2010/Mar/07/03082_18508.jpg

http://flashnewstoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/duranto.jpg

^^are you sure its the LHB rake? the interiors look all the same to me.
and I guess Alstom will start making them and hasnt yet started. I may be wrong though

^^ Looks like in the interests of keeping the costs low - they still kept the interior and exterior facade intact - It makes economical sense from the common man's point of view.
I'm just disappointed that the ugly rake design will remain in production for decades to come. Somehow - these rakes keep underscoring the fact that India is a third world from an outsider's perspective- whenever they show Indian trains in any context.
I hope to god at least they implement the "controlled discharge" in the toilets of the new rake- it would be at least one level of evolution from the "dump on the tracks" nonsense IR can't seem to get rid of.

I still have my doubts that this is the LHB coach. the grills in the window are not jutting out. I have travelled in a similar coach before which should be at least an year back.

Saurav - where did you find the pic?

Is this an LHB rake:

http://indiarailinfo.com/file/blog/post/117323/281544/lhb.jpg?height=600&width=800&modal=false

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/4950999380_5467e0f948_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mithun_upload/4950999380/)
shatabdi new LHB rakes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mithun_upload/4950999380/) by rock287 (http://www.flickr.com/people/mithun_upload/), on Flickr

yes it is

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=CAP/2011/05/03/17/Img/Ad0170410.png

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Repository/getimage.dll?path=CAP/2011/05/03/17/Img/Ad0170410.png

I still have my doubts that this is the LHB coach. the grills in the window are not jutting out. I have travelled in a similar coach before which should be at least an year back.

Saurav - where did you find the pic?

I found on this on net, but these are non ac versions of LHB rake which are specially designed for Non-A.C Durontos,they are non-a.c but have the capability to run at 130 km/h.

Is this an LHB rake:

http://indiarailinfo.com/file/blog/post/117323/281544/lhb.jpg?height=600&width=800&modal=false

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4130/4950999380_5467e0f948_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mithun_upload/4950999380/)
shatabdi new LHB rakes (http://www.flickr.com/photos/mithun_upload/4950999380/) by rock287 (http://www.flickr.com/people/mithun_upload/), on Flickr

The first photo is LHB rakes used for non-rajdhani/shatabdi/duranto trains. Eventually all IR trains will have these coaches.

The second photo is LHB rakes used for shatabdis. Eventually all shatabdis would have this livery. (still some like bangalore-chennai for eg run in old taxi-livery )

BTW world, I myself have travelled Hyderabad-mumbai some 800 km in 114 Rs ticket. and journey took 14 hrs (it was a superfast).

I found on this on net, but these are non ac versions of LHB rake which are specially designed for Non-A.C Durontos,they are non-a.c but have the capability to run at 130 km/h.


I know the foll trains non AC LHB rakes

delhi-jammu shalimar express (first non-AC LHB rakes in country)
gorakhpur-LTT kushinagar express (?) the one departing LTT in morning) (Now this one has hybrid rakes- meaning LHB shell on non-LHB chassis. strange but true.
Jammu duranto
Mumbai-nagpur duranto
Secunderabad New Delhi Duranto,
Howrah-Yeshwantapur Duronto
New Delhi - Allahabad Duronto

I know the foll trains non AC LHB rakes


gorakhpur-LTT kushinagar express (?) the one departing LTT in morning) (Now this one has hybrid rakes- meaning LHB shell on non-LHB chassis. strange but true.


^^
http://www.e-paths.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Duronto-trains.jpeg
I think you are saying about this(just look at the wheel base,not LHB).

http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/PUBLICATIONS/HT/HD/2011/05/05/Article//013/05_05_2011_013_005.jpg

Coal India plans to build 3 new rail links

Coal India Ltd proposes to build three new rail links having a total length of 350 km to connect its coal fields in the interiors. This could require an investment of Rs 2,000-Rs 3000 crore depending on the terrain.

“The new rail links would connect coal fields in the Ib Valley, North Karanpura and Mand-Raigarh coal fields,” Mr N.C.Jha, Chairman, Coal India, told Business Line. These coal mines are in Orissa, Jharkhand and Chattisgarh.

Sources in the Indian Railways said construction cost for a new rail line, excluding the land cost, ranges between Rs 5-7 crore a km in a flat terrain. However, in a difficult, hilly terrain the costs could shoot up to as high as Rs 20 crore a km.

“The new policy announced by Railways in February is quite favourable, even though we will not get back the interest (during construction) part,” Mr Jha said.

Funding
According to the Railway policy — that allows investments in coal and iron ore mine rail linkages — companies will have to fund construction of rail link along with land acquisition costs. But, upon construction, the ownership, operation and maintenance will be with the Indian Railways. On the revenue side, the entire freight earnings from the use of this link will accrue to the Railways.

Investing firms such as Coal India can recover their costs, through the levy of “surcharge” on the freight rates, over a 10-25 year period. Companies can recover the costs through development charges from various users of the line, or it can also be compensated by the Railways through levy of surcharge on customers till the applicant recovers the cost of original investment. But, the Railway Ministry is yet to finalise the model concession agreement for implementing the policy.

The Coal India board has already approved the 43 km rail link in Ib Valley. “We plan to lay a double line now,” Mr Jha said. In North Karanpura, a double rail link of 93 km has been proposed for which the company is seeking forest clearance from the Environment Ministry. The new coal field Mand-Raigarh is being linked to Korba coal field, which will be eventually linked to the Pendra Road-Amritpur line.

Coal has been facing problems with coal evacuation due to the shortage of rakes. In 2010-11, the company had some 71 million tonnes of coal piled up at the pit heads due to capacity constraints.

However, in April, the situation seemed to have improved as the Railways have increased the rake availability. “As against 158 rakes a day in April last year, we have received 181 rakes in April this year. There are signs of improvement, even though we are falling short by 10 rakes a day. Our offtake is up by 9.2 per cent. I expect that this year we will get more rakes going by the current trend,” Mr Jha said. Business Line

No summer special trains on Howrah-Mumbai rail route

B Sridhar, TNN | May 5, 2011, 11.06pm IST
JAMSHEDPUR: The South Eastern Railway (SER) will not introduce any summer special trains on the Howrah-Mumbai route this summer.

The Chakradhapur division of the SER has said because of additional passenger trains running on the busy Mumbai route there is no need for summer special trains.

"Three additional trains have been introduced on the Howrah-Mumbai route over the past few months so we see no reason to run summer special trains at this point of time," said station manager, Tatanagar railway, A K Agarwalla.

Howrah-Pune Duronto Superfast Express, Howrah-Mumbai Kamkahaya-LTT Superfast Express and Howrah-Shirdi Superfast Express have been introduced by the SER in the last financial year ending March 31. These three trains are running in addition to the regular express trains on the Mumbai route, said the railway official.

At present, only single summer special Shalimar-Haridwar-Shalimar weekly train has been introduced by the SER this summer.

Sources at Tatanagar railway station said plans are afoot to attach additional coaches to few of the Bihar and UP-bound trains but vis-'-vis introducing summer special trains pressure need to be build at the divisional office. Additional coaches will be attached to the Kerala-bound Tatanagar-Alleppy Express train also.

"Running special train is a matter linked to the strength of the passengers travelling on that particular route at a given point of time. So anything about announcing a special train will take place once these issues are evaluated thoroughly," said another officer at ARM office.