Indian Railway Minister plans 3,000 new trains for capacity boost

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw is working on a plan to introduce 3,000 new trains in the next four-five years to raise the railways’ passenger capacity from 800 crore at present to 1,000 crore.

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has unveiled plans to boost India’s rail passenger capacity, aiming to increase it from the current 800 crore to 1,000 crore over the next four to five years. To achieve this, the minister aims to introduce 3,000 new trains during the specified timeframe. With 69,000 new coaches currently available and an annual manufacturing capacity of 5,000 additional coaches, the railways can add 200 to 250 new trains each year. This is in addition to the 400 to 450 Vande Bharat trains planned for future inclusion.

Vaishnaw emphasised the importance of reducing travel time, outlining efforts to improve train speeds and expand the rail network. By enhancing acceleration and deceleration times, he believes significant time savings can be achieved. Vande Bharat trains, with four times better acceleration and deceleration, serve as a model for this initiative. The railways are exploring a push-pull configuration mode to double acceleration and deceleration, particularly on long-distance trains, until Vande Bharat is implemented on all routes.

Additionally, the railways are considering a shift from separate coaches to integrated 22-coach trains, focusing on safety and convenience for passengers. The ongoing efforts include laying approximately 5,000 km of tracks annually and the construction of flyovers and underpasses, with a target of 1,200 such structures in the current year. Vaishnaw’s comprehensive plan encompasses technological advancements, safety measures, and infrastructure development to meet the growing demands of India’s population and enhance the efficiency of the rail network.

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