Rail Budget: Prabhu May Unveil Premium Trains & Better Services

Today’s Rail Budget might see Railway Minster Suresh Prabhu announce marquee train service that will have premium coaches aimed at giving competition to low-cost airlines.

The new service will be in the category of ‘Shatabdi’, ‘Rajdhani’ and ‘Duranto’ trains. The 2016 Rail Budget may also include a slew of measures to ensure quality travel including expansion of e-catering to all important stations beyond the 42 already covered ones. Provisions for bar-coded tickets and travel insurance for passengers are also likely to be announced. In the past few years, the budgets have focused on improving passenger amenities including the range of branded food through e-catering. The minister is likely to rationalize freight tariff along with an announcement to introduce high-speed parcel trains, long-term contracts and roll on-roll off container services to stem decline in traffic and improve earnings.

The Budget will also lay down the safety measures required for prevention of accidents.  Upgradation of existing coaches with modern facilities and improved interiors are being planned in a big way to run trains on higher fares like the recently launched Mahamana Express between New Delhi and Varanasi. Introduction of dual mode engine to enable the train to run both on diesel and electricity is also likely to be announced.

Continuing with ‘Swachh Bharat’ drive, Prabhu is also likely to announce plans for the installation of bio-toilets and vacuum toilets in as many trains and placing dustbins in every coach. On high speed, he will showcase the agreement with Japan to execute India’s first proposed bullet train project on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route.