Current: What plagues Indian Railways?

Source: Tehelka, Volume-9, Issue: 13; 31 March 2012

Some interesting facts:

1.       India’s longest train journey – Vivek Express – 4243km; upper Assam to KanyaKumari

2.       It takes 82 hours and 40 minutes to cover this distance at a speed of 51 kmph

3.       In China, long distance trains run at a speed of 350kmph

4.       2.3 crore Indians use trains every day. This is just 10% of the total passengers per day.

5.       India has 7083 railway stations and 19000 km of tracks

Problem areas:

1.       Overstaffing: Indian railways is the world’s eighth largest employer with 1.3 million employees and 1.2 million pensioners

2.       India has 12000 passenger trains but the focus on long distance trains has much more to be desired. 5200 out of this 12000 are intra city which consume as much money and attention as express trains. 4200 are slow-moving passenger trains. Only 2600 trains are actually express trains which move at rapid speeds.

3.       Because of lack of safety, signaling equipment, the distance between two trains is unreasonably high. So, the frequency is extremely low which disturbs the overall revenue.

4.       Freight trains are not considered important. 45% of the freight traffic is coal. Freight trains are made to wait as they are seen as low priority than day-trippers. This has led to FMCG goods shifting to trucks and buses, thereby, leading to a severe revenue loss.

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