The newly introduced Garib Rath Airconditioned Express trains have been designed to provide affordable service to lower and middle income group long distance passengers. These trains, introduced from October 4, 2006, are  running between Chennai Central – Nizamuddin, Bandra (T) – Nizamuddin, Patna – Nizamuddin and Saharasa – Amritsar.

            The train is fully air-conditioned and each AC sleeper coach has 75 berths instead of the usual 64. Besides, the Chair Car has 102 seats. Inspite of the increase in the number of berths and seats in both sleeper coaches and Chair Cars, there is absolutely no discomfort due to reduction of space. This is because the width of a berth has been reduced by just one cm and the width of each cabin has been reduced by just 12 cm. The space meant for bed rolls has been removed, which is also an addition to the existing space. The non-availability of the bedrolls will not affect the passengers at all, as the temperature inside the coach will be maintained at 27⁰ to 28⁰ C. Even the area occupying the power panel has been reduced by providing a sleek   power panel. Provision has been made for power sockets and emergency lights. There is a separate air-conditioned compartment specially designed for wheel chair borne passengers. The entire inside of the train gives a fine aesthetic look and the train has the capability to run at the speed of 130 km per hour.

            Though, the charges for travel in this train are lower by about 22-25 per cent compared to the ordinary 3^rd AC trains, the railway’s revenue earnings will not be affected because of the  increase in the number of berths and seats. The coaches have been built at Integral Coach factory, Chennai and Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala.

Economies of Scale

            Though, it was widely believed, prior to the introduction of this train, that these coaches would have lesser leg space and would be congested, a look at these trains, after their introduction, belies this impression. Since these trains will be running between stations which have high density of lower and middle income people, the Railways expect to generate   revenue in due course due to economies of scale. 

Success Saga

Indian Railways, which were almost written off as a financially viable concern, continues to march ahead with its dramatic turnaround over the last couple of years or so. The railway renaissance has evoked admiration and curiosity of internationally renowned institutions and companies like the Indian Institutes of Technology, the GE and others.

Year of Passenger Service

The Year 2006 has been declared as the year of Passenger Service with a Smile. To make Indian Railways more aesthetic, comfortable and passenger friendly, the Ministry has issued a list of ‘touch and feel’ points to all the General Managers of Zonal Railways.

The ‘touch and feel’ points are – Improvement in cleanliness standards in trains and at stations; Improvement in lighting particularly on platforms, concourse, waiting halls, circulating area, booking, reservation and enquiry offices; Improvement in circulating area at all-important stations and making it congestion free and smooth with properly  demarcated parking areas; Upgradation of waiting rooms, waiting halls and retiring rooms; Installation of Train Running Position Indication Boards at all important stations; Improvement in announcement systems at stations; Upgradation of Booking and Enquiry offices;  Provision of  more counters to substantially reduce waiting period; Decentralisation of booking tickets through internet; Ensure availability of drinking water at all stations; Development of adequate sitting space in waiting halls/platforms; Improvement in quality of food supplied in trains; and Improvement in quality of bedrolls in trains and redressal of public grievances. The schemes include round the clock grievance control rooms.

Earnings on the Rise

Consequently, earnings of the Railways are continuously going up.  The total approximate earnings of Indian Railways on originating basis during the period 1-10 October, 2006 were Rs. 1508.45 crore compared to Rs. 1380.74 crore during the same period last year, registering an increase of 9.25 per cent. (PIB Features)

(Release ID :21470)