New Delhi: Anticipating the holiday rush, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced that the Indian Railways will run 5,975 special trains to meet the expected rise in passenger demand during the approaching festive season, particularly around Chhath Puja and Diwali.
In response to public demand, 12,500 special trains have been sanctioned, with 5,975 approved for the 2024-25 timeframe.
General carriages will be added to 108 regular trains, giving customers extra choices during the holiday rush.
The Railway Minister stated that increasing regular coaches and introducing special trains are intended to reduce the burden on the Indian Railways during this high-demand period.
“More than one crore passengers are expected to benefit from these arrangements”, he said.
He also mentioned that in the 2023-24 festive season, a total of 4,429 special trains were operated, a number that has been significantly expanded for this year to ensure smoother travel experiences.
The decision to expand the number of special trains while adding general coaches is viewed as a direct response to the increased demand for rail tickets during the holiday season.
These new arrangements are intended to increase availability and reduce pressure on the railway system.
Earlier on Thursday, the Railway Minister emphasised the growing popularity of the indigenous Vande Bharat trains, which have become a symbol of India’s railway modernisation.
“The Vande Bharat project took off after Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed confidence in the capabilities of Indian Railway engineers,” he said.
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Multiple versions of the Vande Bharat, including sleeper variants and the Namo Bharat trains, have been developed domestically, reducing dependence on imports.
On September 16, 2024, Prime Minister Modi flagged off India’s first Vande Metro service, set to be renamed as ‘Namo Bharat Rapid Rail’, which runs between Bhuj and Ahmedabad.
This marks a significant milestone in India’s efforts to modernise its railway infrastructure, with Vande Bharat and Namo Bharat trains representing the future of high-speed travel in the country.
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–IANS
Photo: X/Ashwini Vaishnaw
