Latest news with #Shatabdi
New Indian Express
14-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Freight train fire disrupts Chennai services, leaves thousands stranded
CHENNAI: Thousands of rail passengers were inconvenienced on Sunday after train services were disrupted on the Chennai-Arakkonam section due to the fire incident. Many passengers, unaware of the sudden cancellations, were forced to return home after arriving at Chennai Central station between 5.30 am and 7 am, as the announcements came just 30 to 40 minutes before the scheduled departures. All suburban train services on the Chennai-Arakkonam section were suspended from 5.15 am in both directions. About 15 express trains bound for Chennai which departed on Saturday, including the Mangaluru Mail, Nilgiris Express, Mysuru Express, Coimbatore Intercity, Thiruvananthapuram Mail, and Jolarpettai Express, were short-terminated between Arakkonam and Gudiyatham. Additionally, 15 express trains bound to Tirupati, Thiruvananthapuram, Bengaluru, and Mysuru from Chennai were cancelled. A section of passengers scheduled to travel to Bengaluru on premium trains such as the Shatabdi and Vande Bharat had to book expensive omnibus services. S Lalithakumari, a resident of Alandur, said: 'I received a confirmation message for my Kovai Express ticket at 9.15 pm on Saturday. We, a group of four, reached Chennai Central by 5.45 am. Just as I was checking the train's status, I received another message saying the train was cancelled. It's now an uphill task to rebook tickets for all of us.' Rail passengers said they struggled to find alternative travel through omnibuses and other connecting trains. K Baskar, former DRUCC member of Chennai Division, said, 'A passenger who bought a paper ticket through an Automatic Ticket Vending Machine (ATVM) at Walajah Road was refused a refund, even though rules allow for it during cancellations. Staff claimed there was no provision for refunding ATVM tickets.' He alleged emergency helpline numbers offered no support even after multiple calls. The transport department deployed 30 special buses to ferry stranded passengers from Tiruttani, Tiruvallur, and Arakkonam, which proved insufficient.
India.com
11-07-2025
- India.com
How many trains are in India? How many people travel daily by trains? 69 Vande Bharat trains operate at..
Every individual prefers a train journey when it comes to long and affordable travels. But have you ever wondered how vast is India's railway network? Well, Indian Railways is the simplest, most convenient and comfortable means of transport. Several trains, such as Vande Bharat Express, Shatabdi, Tejas, and Rajdhani, are operated by the Indian Railways. How many trains are in India? Indian Railways was initiated on April 16, 1853, when the first train was run from Boree Bunder (Mumbai) to Thane with 14 coaches. At present, India has the fourth-largest railway network in the world, covering 68,584 kms as of 2024. How many people travel daily by trains? 69 Vande Bharat trains operate at.. The number of trains continues to increase. According to the media reports, there are currently 22,593 trains in the country. Of those, there are 13,452 passenger trains, while the remainder are freight trains. By March 2024, Indian Railways employed 14,781 locomotives, 91,948 passenger coaches, and 318,196 freight wagons. Overall, the Indian Railways is widely known for economical travel in the country. This is one reason why almost 2.4 crore (24 million) passengers travel to their destination by train with the Indian Railways on any typical day. Overall, the total number of trains in India continues to change from time to time as Indian Railways adds routes and trains, or sun-sets previously constructed trains. From available data, Indian Railways managed about 13,198 passenger trains a day in the fiscal year 2023-24. Overall Indian Railways transported people to over 7,325 stations in the country.
Hindustan Times
11-07-2025
- Hindustan Times
Spice of Life: Take wing, fly with faith in solidarity
A surge of anticipation flows when boarding a flight. Not quite the same when chugging on parallel lines on a Vande Bharat or a Shatabdi, though that has a romance of its own. The other day, I flew the Maharaja to the capital on purpose, on a Dreamliner, not because there were no options available, but in solidarity, and with faith. It is still the safest mode of travel, and they give it their best. (Reuters File Photo) Flying with the Maharaja comprises childhood memories of skimming the cumulus and the cirrus or watching the setting sun in sub-continental skies. My experience with the Maharaja began with the Douglas DC-3s, called the Dakota, in the 1950s. The man of the moment and pioneer of Indian aviation was the legendary JRD Tata. I still remember with nostalgia the flight to Kashmir, my first, with my parents, looking out of the porthole, marvelling at mountains below. I couldn't help grinning ear to ear, and, so the story goes, walked a foot above the tarmac with delight upon landing, if that were even possible. Later came their Lockheed Constellations, flying falcons had such regal names: Rajput Princess, Himalayan Princess, Maratha Princess, Malabar Princess, et al. They then graduated to the names of illustrious Ranis of Jhansi, Chittor, Ellora, and Ayodhya. All along, though, the beturbaned Maharaja adorned the tail, with gentle humility, but a moustache twirled to the skies. One admired the chivalry of the Maharaja for letting the girls take the lead. Once the Boeing 707s came, the names of the Himalayan peaks began to adorn the aircraft from Annapurna, Kanchenjunga, Nanga Parbat to the Everest. With the advent of the mammoth 747s, the real Maharaja came into his own. Now, penned on the side, were Emperor Akbar, Ashoka, Vikramaditya, and Samudragupta, to mention a few that I flew. Back then, before emplaning, one noted the name of the craft one was flying with pride, and the flight number was just that, a number to be forgotten as soon as one touched terra firma. But those were different times. As children, we were even allowed into the cockpit of an Ariana Afghan aircraft that flew into Amritsar from Kabul. We chatted with the pilots and came away with hugs from the air-hostesses and handfuls of candies. Today, the skies are crowded, the security stressful, and these liberties are passe. The challenges of those managing flights have also skyrocketed: Crew that manage public misbehaviour with patience are stretched to the limits, and pilots have to brave aggressive weather systems, made even more hostile by climate change. So, when a brave pilot takes a beating to his Airbus in a hailstorm or patiently assuages the passengers during turbulent monsoonal surges, I keep my calm and say a prayer, not for myself, but for the crew that battles the odds for us. The other day, I flew the Maharaja to the capital on purpose, on a Dreamliner, not because there were no options available, but in solidarity, and with faith. It is still the safest mode of travel, and they give it their best. As I flew with young crew members, conversations turned grim many a time, the tragedy still raw in our hearts. But take wing we shall nevertheless, as even this shall pass, and flying is now a necessity, much like the cause of the young bird who has to fly. So, take heart, fellow travellers, as the skies are still the limit, even for those without wings. The writer is an Amritsar-based business leader and can be reached at gunbirsingh@
India.com
03-07-2025
- Business
- India.com
India's First Corporate Train with Airline-Like Amenities - Not Shatabdi, Vande Bharat Or Rajdhani; Check Route, Stoppages, Price
photoDetails english 2925739 Indian railway in one of the largest railway network in the world and consist may type of trains including Rajdhani, Shatabdi and so on. The Tejas Express marked as India's first corporate train under the PPP model, offers airline-style luxury with IRCTC managing services. Launched in 2019 on the Lucknow-Delhi route, and later on Mumbai-Ahmedabad, it features modern amenities, faster travel, and passenger compensation. With dynamic pricing, tickets range from Rs 1,280 to Rs 4,325, redefining train travel comfort in India. Updated:Jul 03, 2025, 07:55 AM IST First Corporate Train 1 / 6 First corporate train in India, Tejas Express started in 2019 on the Lucknow-Delhi route under a public-private partnership. 2 / 6 Operated by IRCTC, it handles everything from ticketing to onboard services. Featues 3 / 6 The trains offers airline-like comforts like fresh meals, LCD screens, automatic doors, and clean toilets. Stoppage 4 / 6 Travel time is shorter than other trains on the same route, with just two stops incluing Kanpur and Ghaziabad. Cost 5 / 6 Ticket prices range from Rs 1,280 to Rs 4,325, depending on class and demand. Timing 6 / 6 Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Expressdeparts from Lucknow at 6:10 AM and arrives in Delhi by 12:25 PM. The return journey starts the same day at 3:35 PM, reaching Lucknow by 10:05 PM.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Railways announce fare rationalisation from July 1 after five-year gap
In a move aimed at streamlining fare structures and enhancing the financial sustainability of passenger services, the Ministry of Railways has rationalised the basic fare of passenger train services, with the revised structure set to take effect from July 1. There will be no change in suburban single journey fares or season tickets for both suburban and non-suburban routes. For ordinary non-AC classes on non-suburban trains, Second Class fares have been increased by half a paisa per kilometre, with no change applicable for travel up to 500 km. Beyond this threshold, the increase will be ₹5 for distances between 501 and 1,500 km, ₹10 for distances between 1,501 and 2,500 km, and ₹15 for distances between 2,501 and 3,000 km. Sleeper Class and First Class fares will also see an increase of 0.5 paisa per kilometre. In the case of Mail and Express trains (non-AC), fares for Second Class and First Class passengers have been hiked by one paisa per kilometre. For AC classes in Mail and Express trains, fares will rise by two paise per kilometre across all categories — AC Chair Car, AC 3-Tier and 3-Economy, AC 2-Tier, and AC First/Executive Class/Executive Anubhuti. The revision will also apply to premier and special trains such as Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Vande Bharat, Tejas, Humsafar, Amrit Bharat, Mahamana, Gatimaan, Antyodaya, Jan Shatabdi, Yuva Express, AC Vistadome coaches, Anubhuti coaches, and ordinary non-suburban services in accordance with the revised class-wise fare structure. Ancillary charges such as reservation fees, superfast surcharges, and others remain unchanged. GST will continue to be levied as per the applicable rules, the Indian Railways spokesperson said. The Ministry has issued directives to all zonal railways for the smooth implementation of the revised fare structure. Zonal railways have also been instructed to update fare displays at all stations. According to data available with the Ministry, Indian Railways carried 715 crore passengers during the financial year April 2024–March 2025. Of these, 81 crore passengers travelled in AC and Sleeper Class, while 634 crore travelled in the unreserved category. Passenger revenue during the period stood at ₹75,750 crore. The revision marks the first hike in train fares in five years. M. Jamshed, former Member (Traffic) of the Railway Board, described the increase of one to two paise per kilometre as 'a rationalisation that was long overdue'. 'This hike shall contribute an additional ₹1,500 crore to ₹1,600 crore in passenger revenues. Similar fare hikes took place in 2013, 2014, and in 2020,' Mr. Jamshed told The Hindu. He, however, noted that Indian Railways continues to face challenges in achieving financial sustainability. 'FY2024–25 has closed with total earnings below the budgetary estimates. Passenger revenue did increase to ₹75,457 crore but remained below the projected ₹80,000 crore,' he said. 'With freight incremental loading of 26 million tonnes — from 1,591 to 1,617 million tonnes — the revenue generation was marginal,' Mr. Jamshed added. 'Stiffer targets for FY2025–26, including ₹92,000 crore in passenger revenue, are unlikely to be achieved.'
