In a bid to mitigate the perennial challenge of wait-listed tickets, Indian Railways has charted an ambitious course to introduce 3,000 supplementary mail, express, and passenger trains within the next 4-5 years. Presently facilitating approximately 800 crore passenger trips annually, this figure is projected to soar to 1,000 crore in the next five years, necessitating a substantial expansion.
As of now, the railways operate 10,748 mail, express, and passenger trains, up from 10,186 pre-pandemic. The envisioned plan aims to augment track capacity and introduce more trains, with the ultimate goal of ensuring a confirmed ticket for every passenger by 2027-28.
High-ranking officials within the railway ministry revealed that this strategic plan responds to the escalating passenger demand across the nation. Simultaneously, efforts are underway to incorporate more push-pull trains, known for their swift acceleration and deceleration, thus reducing travel time on extended routes by 2-5 hours.
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw emphasized the continued introduction of Vande Bharat trains, modern LHB coaches, and push-pull trains. Additionally, an annual laying of 4,000-5,000 km of new track is envisioned to accommodate the operational needs of additional trains. Vaishnaw stated, “Our focus is to bring down the overall travel time and increase the capacity to run more trains to cater to the growing demand.”
Presently manufacturing about 5,000 LHB coaches annually, equivalent to 225 trains, the railways are poised to produce more trainsets, including locomotives, at the Banaras Locomotive Works. A noteworthy emphasis within this plan is placed on the introduction of push-pull trains, projected to trim travel time significantly on lengthy routes. The anticipated fare for these push-pull trains might be slightly higher, approximately 10-15%, than other mail and express trains.
Notably, during the ongoing festival season, the railways have remarkably increased the number of special trains, operating 2,423 trips since October 1, carrying 36 lakh passengers. Comparatively, this marks a threefold increase from the same period last year, reflecting a proactive approach to meet heightened travel demand.
