Today's Cancelled Trains
IRCTC tourist Train
22:11
Showing posts with label irctc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label irctc. Show all posts
Sunday, 19 September 2021
Wednesday, 15 September 2021
Tour
09:24
Dakshin Darshan With Mallikarjuna Yatra
Dakshin Darshan With Mallikarjuna Yatra
DAKSHIN DARSHAN WITH MALLIKARJUNA YATRA (WZPSTT14)
IRCTC takes the privilege of operating an exclusive Pilgrim Special tourist train for Dakshin
Darshan with Mallikarjuna Yatra (WZPSTT-14) starting from Indore with confirmed train tickets in Non AC Sleeper Class and 3rd AC Class for its esteemed passengers. The destinations covered in Itinerary include Mallikarjuna - Tirupati – Rameshwaram – Madurai – Kanyakumari. It is one of the most affordable all inclusive tour package. Booking of Pilgrim Special Tourist Trains is available online on our website (www.irctctourism.com). Booking can also be done through our Tourist Facilitation Center and Regional Offices.
Boarding & De-boarding Points: Indore, Dewas, Ujjain, Shujalpur, Sehore, Habibganj, Hoshangabad, Itarsi, Betul, Nagpur, Sevagram and Balharshah.
Destination Covered: - Mallikarjuna - Tirupati – Rameshwaram – Madurai – Kanyakmari
Itinerary
Dated :- 27.11.2021 – 06.12.2021 ( 09Nights/10 Days)
Tariff:(Including
GST) All price mentioned
are per person
Source:IRCTC |
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Friday, 21 May 2021
Ministry of Health
06:43
Guidelines For Domestic Travel
Guidelines For Domestic Travel
All the passengers are also advised to visit Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) website http://contents.irctc.co.in/en/stateWiseAdvisory.html before commencing their journey about the protocol to be followed at any of the destination State.
Source:South Central Railway
Thursday, 8 October 2020
Tejas Train
07:19
IRCTC Tejas Express Back on Track From 17.10.2020
IRCTC Tejas Express Back on Track From 17.10.2020
- Trains Between Ahemdabad -Mumbai-Ahmedabad -Train No.8290/02
- Trains Between Lucknow-New Delhi-Lucknow-Train No:82501/02
Source:Western Railway
Tuesday, 29 September 2020
QR
20:05
QR code-based ticket checking for Mail/Express passengers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
QR code-based ticket checking for Mail/Express passengers at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus
020/09/61
29-09-2020
QR code-based ticket checking for Mail/Express passengers at CSMT
Central Railway Press Release
QR code-based ticket checking for Mail/Express passengers at CSMT
Soon, Mumbai Division will be installing Flap gates for Long Distance Passengers at CSMT
Central Railway Mumbai Division will be installing flap-based gates for automatic entry into the station at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus ( non-suburban passenger entry) by using QR code tickets. These flap based gates have QR code scanner and thermal scanning feature. Passengers will be required to place the QR code on the QR code scanner at entry gate for validation of the ticket details. Access will be permitted only after validation of both ticket details and temperature screening.
Presently, a QR code is generated for tickets booked through IRCTC website or PRS counters. This QR code carries all details on the ticket and can be accessed by passengers from the ticket generated in IRCTC App, from the PDF of the ticket or by clicking the URL in the SMS received upon booking the ticket.
This initiative will facilitate safe travel during COVID19, promote social distancing between passengers and railway staff, help in detecting unauthorised access to station premises and rationalise human resource.
Passengers are requested to note and help railways to serve you better.
Let us fight together #COVID19.
Source:Central Railway
Saturday, 29 August 2020
SBI
07:30
IRCTC and SBI Card launch Co-branded Contactless Credit Card on RuPay Platform
IRCTC and SBI Card launch Co-branded Contactless Credit Card on RuPay Platform
No.196/2020-21
28-08-2020
Chennai
IRCTC and SBI Card launch Co-branded Contactless Credit Card on RuPay Platform
New Delhi, 28th July 2020: In yet another initiative towards pursuance of the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister of ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’, ‘Digital India’ and ‘Make In India’ and towards fulfillment of the mission of Hon’ble Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal in achieving greater self reliance for ‘Aatma Nirbhar Bharat’ and engaging with the world from a position of strength, IRCTC and SBI Card together launched their new Co-branded Contactless Credit Card on RuPay Platform. The new credit card was dedicated to the service of the nation today by Sh. Piyush Goyal, Hon’ble Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry.
Speaking on the occasion, Hon’ble Minister of Railways and Commerce & Industry, Shri Piyush Goyal said “We are strongly committed in making Railways ‘Aatma Nirbhar’ in all the fields with ‘Make In India’ initiatives as envisaged by Hon’ble Prime Minister. The IRCTC SBI co-branded card working on RuPay Platform is one of the many “Make In India” activities undertaken by the Railways”
With the aim to offer a safe transaction environment to the customers, the new RuPay credit card is equipped with Near Field Communication (NFC) technology whereby the users can expedite their transactions at the POS machines by just tapping the card on the machines without requiring to swipe the card.
Designed to reward frequent railway travellers, the new co-branded credit card offers the rail passengers maximum savings proposition on their travel together with exclusive benefits on retail, dining and entertainment as well as transaction fee waivers.
The Cardholders will receive up to 10% value back on 1st AC, 2nd AC, 3rd AC, Executive Chair Car & AC Chair Car bookings made at IRCTC website. The card also offers online transaction fee waiver (1% of transaction amount), 1% fuel surcharge waiver and 4 premium lounge free access at Railway stations in a year (one per quarter). The users of the card will receive 350 Bonus Reward Points upon activation of the card with a minimum spent. The users can redeem the accumulated reward points against purchase of train tickets on IRCTC’s ticketing website. In addition to savings on rail travel, the IRCTC SBI card offers several benefits for online shopping portals. Customers can avail discounts while shopping at e-commerce sites.
With RuPay’s increasing market share and gaining popularity among Indian customers, the RuPay powered IRCTC SBI Cobranded Credit Card is yet another step to provide RuPay users a delightful shopping experience.
The new co-branded credit card together substantiates the commitment of IRCTC, SBI Card and RuPay for promoting the Digital India initiatives and aims to ensure a safe, convenient and improved travel experience for the rail passengers.
Source:Southern Railway
Thursday, 14 May 2020
special trains
09:08
Some of the Instructions to the Passengers to start travel in listed Special Trains
Some of the Instructions to the Passengers to start travel in listed Special Trains
Tuesday, 12 May 2020
Train timings
08:22
List of Special Trains with Train Departure and Arrival Timings -Indian Railways
List of Special Trains with Train Departure and Arrival Timings -Indian Railways
Tuesday, 28 April 2020
RPF
10:10
Distributed Cooked Food among Thousands of Needy People -Eastern Railway
Distributed Cooked Food among Thousands of Needy People -Eastern Railway
RPF/ER DISTRIBUTED COOKED FOOD AMONG THOUSANDS OF NEEDY PEOPLE
Kolkata, April 27, 2020
RPF/ER continues to provide cooked meals to needy people following the Nation-wide lockdown due to COVID-19. The food is being prepared by RPF/NGO & IRCTC and the same is being distributed every day by RPF personnel all over the jurisdiction of ER.
In this process, today (27.4.2020) cooked food (lunch) were distributed among 2301 persons at different locations in and around Kolkata like Fairlie Place, Howrah, Sealdah, Bidhannagar, Park Circus, Ballygunge etc. and far-off places like Ranaghat, Srirampur, Seoraphuli, Nabadwip Dham, Barakar, Asansol, Madhupur, Jasidih, Dumka and Malda. Out of this large quantity of food, RPF/NGO/other organizations prepared food for 1176 persons, and the rest food for 1125 persons were prepared by IRCTC.
Moreover, dinner for a total of 1230 persons are also being prepared on date and the same will be distributed among the starving people by RPF personnel at various places. Out of this, food for 280 persons will be prepared by RPF/NGO/Others & the rest food for 950 persons will be contributed by IRCTC.
Source:Eastern Railway
Tuesday, 7 April 2020
Western Railway
20:05
Western Railway and IRCTC Provide Service with Smile
Western Railway and IRCTC Provide Service with Smile
2020/04/
06-04-2020
Mumbai
WR & IRCTC PROVIDING SERVICE WITH SMILE
WHAT IF PASSENGER TRAINS NOT RUNNING IN LOCKDOWN….WR & IRCTC PROVIDING SERVICE WITH SMILE TO BIG NUMBER OF NEEDY PERSONS THROUGH MISSION FOOD DISTRIBUTION
Western Railway and IRCTC are providing their services seamlessly during COVID 19 pandemic with smile. Distribution of food packets is under way to the needy, poor and homeless people, with the help of commercial staff /RPF and several NGOs. Western Rly & IRCTC have geared up their base kitchens at Mumbai Central and Ahmedabad stations. Western Railway's Commercial, RPF & other departments too are making all best possible efforts to reach out to the needy persons and are providing all assistance wherever possible with the unique motive that no one sleeps hungry. Therefore, when no passenger trains are running due to CORONA lockdown, Western Rly & IRCTC are offering their social services to needy persons with a smile through their Mission Food Distribution.
According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar - Western Railway’s Chief Public Relations Officer, IRCTC has continued its pursuance to serve the society in these difficult times of COVID 19 pandemic. IRCTC West Zone served 6000 meals from its Base Kitchen at Mumbai Central to NGO's spread over South and Central Mumbai like the Giants Group, Nanhi Pari, Salaam Mumbai, Mc Aalms,Sainath Mahila Mandal, Akhil Bharatiya Samiti, Terapanth Yuvak Parishad, Angels Charitable Trust etc. Even BMC has come forward to provide assistance to IRCTC for distribution of food to the deserving and needy people who are finding it difficult to make their ends meet with the National Shutdown against Covid 19. With its motive of "No one Sleeps Hungry",IRCTC West Zone Base Kitchens, on 5th April, 2020 provided 6000 and 1500 community Bhojans from its Mumbai Central and AhmedabadBase Kitchens respectively.
In addition to this, Rajkot unit of Western Railway Women's Welfare Organisation distributed packets containing 2 Cloth Masks, 1 Sanitizer, 1 Soap Bar and 1 Thermometer to 100 families of all Group D employees in Kothi Compound Colony ofRajkot. The unique inclusion of a thermometerwill promote self checking forfever bystaffbefore reportingto duty. This effortwill continue and families in other colonies will also be assistedsoon. Similarly,Bhavnagar unit of Western Railway Women Welfare Organisationdistributed 150 food packets and Ration kits to needy and poor persons. 247 food packets received from commercial staff and NGOs were distributedat Botad , Navgharh, Veraval and Mahuva stations. 2060 food packets were distributed tolabourers at Nadiad goods shed byVadodara division.Rajkot division supplied 250 food packets in nearby station areas with the help of NGOs namely , Shri Badrinath Education trust and Jalaram Seva Trust . 2915 food packets were distributed by Ahmedabad division. Similarly Vapi industrial associationdistributed around 35 food packets to all housekeeping , GRP and other staff deputed at VAPI.
Source:Western Railway
Wednesday, 1 April 2020
Western Railway
08:17
IRCTC and Western Railway Continue the Service of Needy Parsons During COVID-19 Lockdown
IRCTC and Western Railway Continue the Service of Needy Parsons During COVID-19 Lockdown
2020/03
31-03-2020
Mumbai
WESTERN RAILWAY & IRCTC CONTINUE THE SERVICE OF NEEDY PERSONS DURING THE CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN Western Railway's staff from various departments continues to display commitment through their exemplary services and dedication, in the wake of the 21-days lockdown to contain the spread of the deadly Coronavirus. Despite the lifeline coming to a halt with Indian Railways decision to cancel all passenger services up to 14th April, 2020, Western Railway has not only continued to work at large by ensuring that essential commodities may be made available across the nation in this dire situation, but during this difficult time, Western Railway is also taking extra special care for the needy and poor persons, who reside near various station premises by providing free food, care packages and masks to them by RPF & other staff. Meanwhile, operation of parcel express trains over WR during lockdown period, started from Kankaria at Ahmedabad on 31st March, 2020.
According to a press release issued by Shri Ravinder Bhakar - Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, with no respite from Corona virus epidemic, IRCTC continues to serve the poor and backward section of the city by preparing community meals in its base kitchen at Mumbai Central and Ahmedabad. on the 30th and 31stof March, 2020 served 2980and 3400 community meals respectively from their Base Kitchen at Mumbai Central and 1000 meals each on 30th and 31st March from IRCTC Base Kitchen at Ahmedabad. Distribution of food to staff and needy persons started from 29thMarch, 2020 and till date 12490 meals have been distributed by WR zone and IRCTC/ West Zone. Shri Bhakar said that the number of NGOs and their requirement of meals is increasing and expected to rise in the forthcoming days. The community meals were served to the needy through the NGOs such as Mariamma Trust, Nanhi Pari, Salaam Mumbai, Future India Foundation, Robinhood Army, Mcaalm India, Indian Relief foundation, Kasyap Foundation,Ujjain Niswarth Seva Samiti, Rotary Club etc.,in co-ordination with the Commercial and RPF Department of Railways. Such generosity could also be witnessed across Vadodara, Surendranagar, Bharuch, Nadiad, Botad, Ankleshwar stations where food packets were distributed to the needy. The catering stall owners, Labour contractors too contributed to this noble cause.
Western Railway is also ensuring through all possibilities to maintain the supply of essential commodities across all parts of country by making sure that the movement of freight trains takes place. To mitigate the difficulties to a certain extent, Western Railway has come forward and decided to open transportation of essential items such as medical supplies, equipment and food etc. Accordingly, time table of 3 such Parcel Express trains has been declared by Western Rly, making total 16 trips during the period from 31st March to 15th April, 2020. Movement will be by parcel trains point to point as per extent rules. WR has finalized the time table for 3 Parcel Express trains for commodities such as Milk Product, Edible Oil, Spices, Groceries and Biscuits etc. 12 trips of the Parcel Special will run between Bandra Terminus and Ludhiana, 2 trips between Kankariya and Sankrail Goodsterminal and 2 trips between Karambeli and Changsari.Since the lockdown period till now from 22nd to 30th March, 2020, 469 rakes have been used to supply essential commodities amounting to 0.96 million tonnes. 1249 freight trains were interchanged with other railways, including 621 trains handed over and 628 trains taken over at different interchange points. 7 Millennium Parcel rakes of Parcel Vans/Railway Milk Tankers (RMTs) have been sent to different parts of the country to cope the demands of essential items such as milk powder, liquid milk and other general consumer goods.
Shri Bhakar stated that total losses over Western Railway up to 30th March, 2020 has been pegged at Rs 192.82 Cr (inclusive of suburban+ non-suburban), Western Railway has also successfully refunded Rs. 131.83 crores against cancellation of tickets and in Mumbai Division itself refund of Rs. 62.30 crores has been made.
Source:Western Railway
Monday, 20 January 2020
waiting room
07:47
IRCTC Pod Hotel to Provide Overnight Accommodation to passengers
IRCTC Pod Hotel to Provide Overnight Accommodation to passengers
IRCTC Pod Hotel: Soon, passengers to get an affordable lodging facility at the Mumbai Central railway station as Indian Railways is planning to set up its first pod hotel! By December 2020, two non-air-conditioned waiting rooms, located on the first floor of Mumbai Central railway station are likely to be turned into a pod hotel. The upcoming pod hotel will consist of a building with multiple extremely small and ultra-modern capsules or pods that provide overnight accommodation to passengers.
The IRCTC pod hotel will also boast a lounge area, changing areas, washrooms as well as a cafeteria. The national transporter first planned the construction of a pod hotel at Mumbai Central railway station in the year 2018.
ReadMore: FInancial Express
Sunday, 8 December 2019
Tariff Plan
13:22
IRCTC Menu and Tariff Of Catering Services Revised
IRCTC Menu and Tariff Of Catering Services Revised
2019/12/7
04-12-2019
REVISION IN MENU AND TARIFF OF CATERING SERVICES IN RAILWAYS
Central Railway Press Release
REVISION IN MENU AND TARIFF OF CATERING SERVCES IN RAILWAYS
Railway Board has revised the Menu and Tariff of pre-paid catering services of Rajdhani / Shatabdi / Duronto trains and standard meals / food items provided in Mail/Express trains on payment basis taking into consideration the requests of Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and the recommendations of the Menu and Tariff committee set up by Railway Board.
This revision of Menu and tariff of catering services and standard meals will be implemented with effect from 28.3.2020 as per 120 days Advance Reservation Period.
The Railways have decided to introduce Chicken Curry as an option in standard non-vegetarian meal in addition to existing non-vegetarian meal with egg curry and to offer Biryani (Veg. Biryani, Egg Biryani and Chicken Biryani) as a standard meal variety in view of its popularity.
The Railways have alsodecided to introduce ‘Snack Meal’ with regional items/cuisine/flavour as a meal variety. The components of newly introduced standard items will be decided by ITCTC.For details visit www.indianrailways .gov.in and menurates.irctc.co.in.
Monday, 7 October 2019
privatisation
12:45
Key Routes Identified for Private Operators with the applicable Charges
Key Routes Identified for Private Operators with the applicable Charges
The private operators will run the trains on routes allocated to them on payment of applicable charges.
NEW DELHI: The Railways on Friday provisionally selected 50 key routes on which trains by private operators can be run and asked its zones to examine the feasibility of the routes.
The decision was taken in a high-level meeting of Railway Board members which was chaired by member traffic. Principal chief operations managers of the six railway zones – northern, central, south eastern, north central, south central and southern railway also attended the meeting.
At the meeting, introduction of modern passenger trains by private operators, who would be selected through a transparent Request for Quote (RFQ) and Request for Proposal (RFP) process, was discussed.
The private operators will run the trains on routes allocated to them on payment of applicable charges.
“For this purpose, 50 origin/destination pairs/routes were provisionally discussed. Zonal railways will examine the feasibility of introducing additional and new trains keeping in view the infrastructural projects and capacity enhancement works which are underway and those which are in the pipeline,” the official said.
The need for developing coaching terminals commensurate with line capacity enhancement to meet the requirement of introducing and operating additional trains was also discussed in the meeting.
The railways on Monday announced the introduction of IRCTC’s Tejas Express train from Delhi to Lucknow which will run six days a week except Tuesdays starting October 5.
This is the first train that will be fully run by the railways’ subsidiary, IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation), and is the national transporter’s first step towards privatising operations of some trains.
IRCTC is yet to announce the operation date of its second train — the Mumbai-Ahmedabad Tejas Express.
Earlier, in an internal note, railway board had said private operators would be considered for inter-city, long-haul trains as well as suburban routes.
A peek into the Indian Railways’ blueprint to roll out private trains
The Indian Railways (IR) is set to embark on a new journey by embracing private passenger trains and divesting its near-total monopoly. The plan, as it stands now, is ambitious enough to change the very landscape of the railway network and alter the government-run transporter’s basic tenet of overarching control on trains, tracks and manpower.
People might soon have the option to travel on a swanky private train instead of waiting for the one operated by the government transport behemoth to arrive at the platform. The concept of waiting list for tickets might also become history in at least some routes as there would be more trains, if the IR’s plans are implemented.
In New Delhi’s Rail Bhawan, the IR is getting ready with a set of bidding documents to invite private train operators — including global players — to run trains and fix their own fares in 150 routes. The blueprint, sets the deadline of late 2020 for awarding the contracts so that the new train-sets can hit the tracks by 2023-24.
Private companies already operate and run container trains in India. But passenger operations have been the preserve of the IR. The plan to allowing private players in passenger operations won’t be a piecemeal exercise, going by the IR’s plans. Private operators might even be allowed to bring in their own loco-drivers, though with a caveat that the drivers will have to be certified by the IR for security and safety reasons.
“The railways will have 150 private trains, to begin with,” says Railway Board Chairman Vinod Kumar Yadav in an exclusive interview on the introduction of private trains. “We will run those in Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Howrah corridors and also in other viable stretches. There will be a regulator to decide on disputes on routes, fares et al.”
The operators will be allowed to either import coaches and locomotives or to get those on lease from the IR, he adds.
RailNews spoke with two other senior officers connected with the development to understand the nitty-gritty of the groundbreaking initiative of the transport behemoth — the fourth largest in terms of network (68,000 route-km) after the US, China and Russia. The IR, the officials say, will take a haulage charge from the private operators for using its platforms, tracks, signalling and other infrastructure. Electricity charge will be calculated separately so as to give incentives to operators who bring in new-age trains that consume less power.
There is no clarity as yet on which global railway operators are showing interests in running train in India. The IR hasn’t publicly spelt out the conditions for the private entry. But a back-of-the-envelope calculation shows the initiative may straightway fetch the IR Rs 16,000 crore in private investments. If, as Yadav says, 150 private trains are introduced and each has 16 coaches, it would make 2,400 coaches in total. Assuming each coach costs Rs 6.5-7 crore, according to industry estimate, the IR should be able to attract Rs 15,600-16,800 crore in private investments.
The IR’s latest train — Vande Bharat, or Train 18 as it was earlier called — has 16 coaches. It was manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) under the Make in India banner and was inaugurated on February 15. The semi-high speed train can reach 160 km an hour, had automatic sliding doors and other latest technologies that set it apart. Though it received wide publicity, the train faced criticism for consuming more electricity. It also sparked differences between the Indian Railways’ electrical and mechanical wings over issues related to weight and other specifications.
The private trains will most likely be run by a consortium of train operators, rolling-stock suppliers and investors, says Harsh Dhingra, a management consultant who had earlier served as chief country representative of Bombardier in India. Else it might be difficult to get the technical, operational and financial expertise together for a successful operation. “A supplier like Bombardier can at best be a part of a special purpose vehicle, but the lead has to be taken by a train operator,” Dhingra adds.
Deutsche Bahn AG (Germany), SNCF (France), MTR (Singapore), Virgin Trains (UK), First (UK) and Renfe (Spain) are among the famous train operators across the world.
The IR is likely to allow public sector train companies, like SNCF, to take part in the bidding.
The government had on its par, as was articulated by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal in the Lok Sabha last month, said it would place private trains under the larger bracket of public-private partnership. After all, tracks, signalling, stations and other infrastructure will continue to be with the IR. And the government won’t give away its existing trains to private players.
Dhingra also anticipates Indian companies directly or indirectly connected to railway networks — for example, Tata, Adani and Larson and Tubro — may join the bandwagon. The India managing director of Talgo, Spain-based high-speed passenger train maker, Subrat Nath says he has been receiving enquiries from Indian companies on a possible tie-up. “Our company is bullish on India. If the Indian Railways offers buzzing routes for private operators, why not? We would like to be part of a consortium and bid for it. We feel the early birds will have profitable businesses.” He adds that Talgo India has the potential to grow bigger than its parent company, Talgo Spain.
The IR has tested Talgo trains on its tracks, but the Spanish train manufacturer is yet to make any business from India. For private operators, the key to profit will be through routes and time slots. They will have to get routes that have heavy passenger traffic but ensure there are no delays, for quick turnaround of trains.
As it stands today, the IR may bid out several routes and time slots in the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata corridors for private players, apart from handpicking other viable routes such as Bengaluru-Chennai, Bengaluru-Mysuru, Secunderabad-Vizag, Nagpur-Secunderabad and Howrah-Vizag, according to officials in the know.
The selection of routes won’t be random. IR has estimated that both the eastern and western dedicated freight corridors (DFCs) — connecting mainly Delhi and Kolkata and Delhi and Mumbai — would be ready by December 2021. That means, 90% of the freight traffic on the existing corridors, which carry passengers and freight, will shift to the DFCs, where 120 trains will run daily at 70-80 km per hour, up from 40 now. Also, in the next four years, the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata passenger corridors will be upgraded for trains to run at 160 kmph, from 130 now. The cabinet has given approval to upgrade the tracks. So, by 2023-24, the IR will need a large number of semi-high-speed trains to fill up the void in the passenger corridor.
The private operators are expected to play a role here. An IR official says busy routes other those in the Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata corridors too need to be put out for bidding to woo big train operators. After all, bigger players will enter into the Indian railway market only if they see volumes. The initiative makes sound financial logic for the IR, as private trains will not erode money from its exchequer.
There is no doubt that the IR’s financial health continues to be a concern. Its earnings have not improved. Besides, 63% of its expenditure is now incurred on account of salary and other allowances (40%) and pension (23%), according to the budget estimate of 2019-20. Fuel accounts for 15%.
No wonder, the operating ratio of the IR was 96.2% in 2018-19, which is marginally better than 98.4% in 2017-18. That means, the IR uses more than Rs 96 of every Rs 100 it earns for its day-to-day expenses. This leaves aside virtually nothing to re-invest.
Given this situation, there is an argument that it would make sense for the IR to get private players instead of going ahead with its plan to replace 43,000 outdated ICF coaches with Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) ones. Not only will the IR struggle to find the money for this replacement, but LHB coaches are an outdated technology globally, say experts. Private trains, on the other hand, will bring in newer coaches and the latest technologies. At present, LHB coaches are used in trains such as Rajdhani and Shatabdi.
The introduction of private passenger trains, however, is not going to be easy considering the potential opposition from railway trade unions and political parties. Though the IR has for the last 13 years allowed private players to operate container trains on its tracks, the very words “privatisation” and “private train” sit uneasily among a section of the railway fraternity. The first hurdle for the IR would be to convince its own workers and trade unions that getting private trains won’t rob them of their jobs. The IR has a staff strength of a little over 1.2 million against the sanctioned strength of 1.5 million. The fear among the workers is that the entry of private train operators will curtail their strength even further.
“We will oppose any move to privatise the railways,” says Shiva Gopal Mishra, general secretary of All India Railwaymen’s Federation. “Why should we get trains from private operators when we have quality trains such as Shatabdi and Vande Bharat? Had trade unions not been there, the railways would have long been a loss-making entity, just like Air India.”
The trade unions are also threatening nation-wide protests. The move to invite private operators, once it is announced, may witness massive political opposition as well.
Interestingly, the IR was during the major part of the British Raj developed and operated by private companies such as East Indian Railway Company, Great Indian Peninsula Railway and the Bombay, Baroda and Central India Railway, among others. But it has been under the Government of India’s control since 1924. After 1947, there was no attempt to bring in private passenger trains, though foreign companies with Indian partners were allowed to run civilian airlines.
So what will be the impact of private trains? Statistically speaking, the introduction of 150 private trains is unlikely to upset the functioning of the humongous Indian railway apparatus that operates 13,542 passenger trains a day and carries 23 million passengers. Private trains will account for just 1.1% of passenger trains a day. Yet, the deployment of 150 technically superior and faster train-sets will give the IR a facelift. Punctuality is also likely to see a major improvement.
After all, if one Vande Bharat Express had caught the imagination of the entire nation, imagine what 150 stylish ones will do.
Five Questions on Private Trains
Vivek Sahai, a former Railway Board chairman, has posed these queries to Indian Railways on its plans to start private trains:
1. IRCTC was created for better catering services. Has it been selected to operate trains because it has achieved that objective?
2. If private trains are introduced, who will control the fare? Also, why has railways not been able to raise passenger fares?
3. Will profitable routes be given to private operators?
4. Why is railways only planning 160-kmph trains? Why not 200-kmph trains?
5. Private trains may be a success in Japan, but what is the guarantee the same model will work in India? Has our purchasing power reached a level it can sustain trains with better amenities but also higher fares?
Thursday, 5 September 2019
irctc news
20:21
Indian Railways Passenger Business to begin Private Entry Slowly
Indian Railways Passenger Business to begin Private Entry Slowly
Railways, barring core operations of running trains, going private, slowly but surely!
NEW DELHI: The Railways made a beginning by allotting two popular routes – New Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad — for private operations. For now, the IRCTC, a railways subsidiary, has been given the job.
Facing mounting losses in the passenger business, Indian Railways is moving ahead slowly but steadily towards privatization by offloading many of its services into private hands. In time, most major functions, barring the core operation of running the trains, will be managed by the private sector.
The Railways made a beginning by allotting two popular routes – New Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad — for private operations. For now, the IRCTC, a railways subsidiary, has been given the job.
While Railways maintains that the trains will be operated in PPP model, it is no doubt a harbinger of private entry into the passenger train business as there would be as many as 20 routes connecting all metro cities to be privately managed, according to the plan.
So far, IRCTC had been allowed to run only luxury trains for tourists, like the Maharaja Express or the Buddhist and Ramayan Specials. But for the Delhi-Lucknow and Mumbai-Ahmedabad sectors, IRCTC, which will run the Tejas Express, will not only decide the passenger fares but also have private Train Ticket Examiners, exclusive catering, separate lounges and staff to manage the service. Except for the train driver, guard, signalling and, of course, the track, all other functions will be privately managed. Until now, the passenger fare has always been Railways’ decision.
With private siding, port connectivity and ‘own your wagon’ schemes among others, Railways’ freight operations are already open to private players. These schemes allow private parties to lay rails connecting ports to export their products with their own dedicated wagons. Private sidings also allow businesses to invest in building siding for their freight operations.
However, the passenger business had been only partially opened — for tourism purpose — in a limited exercise so far. Now, with the opening of the two routes, the flood gates seem set to be opened further for private stakeholders to run passenger trains all over the country.
Delhi-Kolkata, Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Chennai, Chennai-Bengaluru, Mumbai-Shirdi, Howrah-Digha, Delhi-Patna and many such high demand routes will be gradually offered to private players, as per the plan.
While the manufacture of wagons is mostly in private hands, now passenger coaches are also to be produced privately for Railways, despite the national transporter having its own factories. The Vande Bharat Express, which was successfully made at Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, is now on offer for private manufacturers to set up shop and build it.
Notwithstanding the strong opposition from railway unions across the country, Railways has launched a mega plan to corporatise its production units. According to the action plan, a detailed study is under way to corporatise all seven Production Units (PU), including the Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW-West Bengal), Integral Coach Factory (ICF-Chennai), Diesel Locomotive Works (DLW-Banaras), Rail Coach Factory (RCF-Kapurthala), Modern Coach Factory (MCF-Rae Bareli) and its associated workshops. These are to be clubbed into a new entity called ‘Indian Railways Rolling Stock Company’ under the Ministry of Railways. Starting with the newly set-up MCF-Rae Bareli, all PUs are to be taken over by the new entity in a phased manner.
Catering and onboard housekeeping services are already outsourced to private players. Most importantly, though signalling and telecommunication system is still with the Railways, the maintenance of overhead equipment (OHE), crucial for hauling electric engines, is in private hands.
While the track is Railways’ baby, its maintenance has been outsourced. The sub-assembly of high-end equipment required for rolling stock is also now privately managed.
Moreover, rail factories are expanding without commensurate deployment of staff, thus causing a large number of vacancies at these units.
According to Railways sources, since the Bibek Debroy Committee had suggested corporatisation of Indian Railways and encouraging private sector participation, the ensuing action plan is only continuation of the implementation of those recommendations.
Besides, many railway PSUs are going for divestment to meet the Modi government’s Rs 1.05 lakh crore disinvestment target, declared by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in her maiden Budget. IRCON, RITES, RVNL, RailTel and IRFC are some of the railway PSUs set for disinvestment.
Railways insiders maintain that barring train operations and control, including safety and track, everything else will be in private hands eventually.
The Railways is also going full steam ahead to redevelop about 400 stations, with private participation. The plan envisages that stations will have shopping malls, office complexes, eateries, budget hotels and parking lots as part of the redevelopment programme.
While the developer will also provide improved amenities for passengers on platforms, Railways will have a share of the earnings from commercial exploitation.
Apart from real estate development at stations, all railway printing presses are also to be closed and handed over for commercial development. These age-old printing presses, situated at Howrah, Delhi and Chennai, are in the process of being outsourced.
The Modi government began by discontinuing the practice of a separate Railway Budget and merging it with the main Budget, and the freight business was opened to private players. Now, the passenger segment is also passing into private hands for all practical purposes, albeit gradually.
Source:RailNews
Sunday, 25 August 2019
IRCTC tourist Train
07:23
Bharat Dharsan: Special Tourist Train
Bharat Dharsan: Special Tourist Train
Overview:- IRCTC Regional Office, Bhopal offers “Bharat Darshan” one of the most affordable all inclusive tour package, covering the important religious and leisure destinations by the Bharat Darshan special tourist train. Tour will cover Ayodhya- Sitamarhi- Janakpur- Varanasi- Prayagraj- Chitrakoot- Nasik- Hampi- Rameshwaram- Madurai
Route: Indore- Dewas- Ujjain- Maksi- Shujalpur- Sehore- Bairagarh- Vidisha- Ganj Basoda- Bina- Lalitpur- Jhansi- Ayodhya- Sitamarhi- Janakpur- Varanasi- Prayagraj- Chitrakoot- Nasik- Hampi- Rameshwaram- Madurai- Nagpur- Itarsi- Hoshangabad- Bairagarh- Sehore- Shujalpur- Maksi- Ujjain- Dewas- Indore
Duration: 14 Nights/15 Days
Package Tariff:
- Standard Category: Rs 14,175/- (Including Service Tax) all prices mentioned are 'Per Person'.
- Comfort Category: Rs 17,325/- (Including Service Tax) all prices mentioned are 'Per Person'.
*** Timings mentioned above are tentative and may change. Final timings will be issued by Railway operating department and will be intimated 1-2 days before the commencement of journey.
Source:IRCTC
Saturday, 13 July 2019
special trains
08:20
Gorakhpur Special Trains From Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus -Central Railway
Gorakhpur Special Trains From Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus -Central Railway
2019/07/24
12-07-2019
2 Weekend Superfast Special Trains between CSMT and Gorakhpur
Central Railway will run 2 weekend Superfast special trains to clear the extra rush of passengers. These special trains will run on special charges between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Gorakhpur. The details are as under:
- Train No. 02009 weekend Superfast special will leave Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai at 05.10 hrs on Friday 09.08.2019 (One trip) and will arrive Gorakhpur at 12.10 hrs next day.
- Train No. 02010 weekend Superfast special will leave Gorakhpur at 14.40 hrs on Saturday 10.08.2019 (One trip) and will arrive Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus Mumbai at 20.25 hrs next day.
Halts: Dadar, Kalyan, Igatpuri, Manmad, Bhusaval, Burhanpur, Itarsi, Bhopal, Jhansi, Orai, Kanpur, Lucknow, Barabanki, Gonda and Basti
Composition: one AC2-tier, Four AC 3-tier, 13 Sleeper Class and 6 General Second Class coaches.
Reservation: Bookings for Train No. 02009 weekend superfast special train on special charges will commence from 15.07.2019at all PRS locations and on website www.irctc.co.in. General second class coaches will run as unreserved coaches and can be booked through UTS system.
Source:Central Railway
Tuesday, 19 March 2019
irctcnews
18:24
Bharat Darshan -Special Tourist Train
Bharat Darshan -Special Tourist Train
No Fare for Child Below 5 Years and Children of 5 and above are Entitled to pay the Full adult fare
Source:IRCTC
Saturday, 9 March 2019
Tuesday, 12 February 2019
train cancelled
05:21
Trains Cancelled/ Partially Cancelled Due to Traffic Block
Trains Cancelled/ Partially Cancelled Due to Traffic Block
No.893/2018-1
11-02-2019
Secunderabad
Trains Cancelled/ Partially Cancelled Due to Traffic Block
Due to launching of Girders works in Central Railway a traffic block is imposed, accordingly the following trains are Cancelled as detailed below:-
Trains Cancelled:
1.Train No. 12071 Dadar – Jalna Shatabdi Express Train scheduled to depart Dadar on 10thFebruary, 2019 is cancelled.
2.Train No. 12072 Jalna - Dadar Shatabdi Express Train scheduled to depart Jalna on 10thFebruary, 2019 is cancelled.
Due to safety related maintenance works over South East Central Railway a traffic block is imposed, accordingly the following trains are Partially cancelled as detailed below:-
1.Trains Partially Cancelled:
1.Train No. 17482 Tirupati - Bilaspur Express Train scheduled to depart Tirupati on 10th, 14th, 17th, 21st, 24th, 28th February, 3rd, 7th, 10th, 14th, 17th, 21st, 24thand 28th March, 2019 is partially cancelled between Raipur - Bilaspur stations.
2.Train No. 17481 Bilaspur - TirupatiExpress Train scheduled to depart Bilaspur on 12th, 16th, 19th, 23rd, 26th February, 2nd, 5th, 9th, 12th, 16th, 19th, 23rd, 26th and 30th March, 2019 is partially cancelled between Bilaspur - Raipurstations.
Source:South Central Railway
