Latest Updates on Indian Railways

For over a century, Indian Railways has provided train services to every part of the world’s seventh-biggest nation. A few routes go through scenic areas and give the traveler’s traveling joy. From the snow-capped peaks of Kashmir to the emerald seas of Tamil Nadu, these routes are some of the world’s most picturesque sights. Shimla’s toy train and Kashmir’s snow-clad scenery are two of India’s most beautiful railway itineraries.

A megaproject has included the Qazigund-Baramulla expansion of new lines to link the Jammu state with Kashmir. The almost 60-kilometer train excursion, which began in 2008, requires 2.45 hours to complete and offers a breathtaking view of snow-covered mountains in the winter.

The Pamban Bridge, India’s first sea bridge, links the mainland with Pamban Island and Rameswaram. It was opened more than a century ago. From the mainland till 1988, this Pamban bridge was indeed the only mode of transportation to go to Rameswaram. As it floats above the ocean’s gorgeous greenery, it provides a delightful experience for tourists.

The Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will resume providing bedrolls and blankets on 23 trains in April.

Due to the Covid-19 epidemic, Indian Railways decided to stop supplying linen and blankets in its AC carriages. Indian Railways’ IRCTC has resumed giving bedrolls and blankets on trains as the number of Covid-19 cases has dropped rapidly. Pillows, blankets, sheets, and towels will subsequently be provided to passengers in Indian Railways AC coaches under a sealed cover. Preventive measures against the Covid-19 pandemic led to the linen and blanket service discontinuation.

In AC carriages, passengers would no longer be supplied with blankets or curtains, as railroad authorities said in May 2020. It was recommended that passengers carry their blankets on lengthy flights, and the AC temp was kept between 24 and 25 degrees Celsius. Officials report that Northern Railways’ 92 trains have begun providing curtains, while another 26 have begun providing linen and bedrolls.

Twenty-three additional trains, such as the Indore-Dehradun fast and the Jammu Tawi-Kanpur central fast train, will begin offering bedroll services today. Services for Hazrat Nizamuddin-Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani express & Gomti express trains will commence on April 6, while the Vaishno Devi Katra-Ghazipur town express trains will begin operation on April 7. Passengers will no longer have to bring their bedding or a bedroll on board the train. Their travels may now be more enjoyable as a result.

Summer Special Trains Will Be Offered By Indian Railways This Year

For the summer of 2022, Indian Railways plans to run faster biweekly summer special services like Vande Bharat trains to accommodate the influx of passengers. The Indian Railways may run a slew of special trains to various locations throughout the country in 2022 to deal with the expected influx of passengers during the peak summer travel season. More than 350 superfast summer special trains will be operated by the Indian Railways Corporation of India (IRCTC), according to Railway authorities.

“Make plans for your vacations! ” At a glance, the Central Railway’s summer promotions. From 4.4.2022 forward, reservations for the Dn train 01921 and all other Dn trains will be available. Fully booked AC Superfast Special express between Mumbai and Shilmar would make 20 journeys to handle the influx of passengers. The Panvel-Karmali Special may cover ten trips, while the wholly reserved AC superfast special for Pune-Jaipur covers 20 visits.

How Has Technology Improved The Indian Railways

Railways have seen many changes due to advancements in science and technology; here is a list of technology that has helped them improve. Since its inception in 1853, Indian Railways, the world’s third-largest railway network, has grown and changed dramatically.

The industry’s experts have shown remarkable accomplishments in faster services and passenger safety by using environmentally-friendly passenger accommodations and running an engine-less train. Rail travel has taken on new relevance due to technological developments that have improved systems, infrastructure, and signaling. Look at the latest improvements in rail travel like Vande Bharat trains and how technology has benefitted.

It is all about 3D

It has been a long time since train travel was enjoyable due to out-of-date seats and cabin layouts. 3D-designed trains like Vande Bharat trains meet international comfort and safety criteria. There are numerous advantages of using this technology, including being able to incorporate all the necessary information (components and subsystems, for example) into the virtual world, correcting any errors that occur, and designing coaching staff that support current passenger needs, such as spacious, safe standing, comfortable seats and appealing cabin styling.

QR codes are a kind of barcode

For as long as COVID-19 is in effect, the importance of social distance cannot be overstated. In light of this, the Indian Railways have begun using QR codes to allow passengers to enter stations. Contactless verification and the ability to keep track of approved visitors are made possible by this technology.

Smart Coaches

Trains depend on passengers for their survival. As part of the industry’s efforts to improve the passenger experience, trains will be equipped with a SMART coach, automated plug-door or step control, face recognition CCTV cameras, etc. This is done for the benefit of passengers and their safety.

Science of Data

A decade ago, trains made several stops, which increased the entire travel duration. With data science, routes may be optimized by finding low-traffic stations and removing people, slowing down the train’s pace to reduce travel time. Predicting confirmations and finding other routes are made more accessible with the help of data analytics in the rail travel sector, too. This has resulted in a 50% improvement in the probability of acquiring a confirmed rail ticket.

T-49, India’s Longest Railway Tunnel, Runs Through Kashmir

In the Katra-Banihal segment of the USBRL megaproject, the longest tunnel in Indian Railways is T-49, which runs between Sumber & Arpinchala stations. With the completion of the Kashmir Rail Project in 2023, India’s aspiration of totally integrating with the Valley becomes a reality. The project would build India’s tallest railway network, defying gravity inside the Pir Panjal range’s sterile environment.

Due to the treacherous and mountainous Himalayan topography, Kashmir’s train route is very complicated. Udhampur–Srinagar–Baramulla Railway Link (USBRL), on the other hand, shocked the country with its unconventional strategy of constructing its central T-49 tunnel inside an impossible terrain. Because of the pandemic, the project’s development has been slowed in recent years. Still, thanks to its experienced staff, the tunnel T-49 on Kashmir Railways’ Banihal-Qazigund segment has already crossed the 11.2-kilometer Pir Panjal Tunnel. T-49, the longest tunnel in Indian Railways, connects the stations of Sumber and Arpinchala on the Katra-Banihal section of the USBRL mega project. Its length is 12.758 kilometers.

Access roads linking 147,000 people from 73 villages are part of the USBRL project, which is scheduled to be 272 kilometers long, with the first 161 kilometers in service. There are several bridges, viaducts, & tunnels throughout the route. Compared to Tibet’s Qingzang Railway, which is permafrost over 5,000 m above sea level, the track’s alignment was the most significant engineering difficulty ever encountered.

A 1,315-meter-long Chenab River bridge and another 657-meter-long footbridge across Anji Khad add to the list of accomplishments for USBLR, which has been recognized with.

The use of Weathering Steel eliminates the requirement for painting in constructing bridges. The Chenab River bridge in the Reasi district is 30 meters higher than the Eiffel Tower, making it the world’s tallest bridge.

Another part of the lower Himalaya, the 111-kilometer Katra-Banihal sector, is likewise moving quickly. There are 37 bridges and 35 tunnels, with 27 being the primary tunnels and eight serving as escape tunnels. Of these, 20 are complete.

Finally, The Indian Railways (IR) set a goal of 100% electrification of its system through December 2023, as stated in the economic report 2021-22. To attain this aim, alongside building other facilities in the industry, the government has boosted the CAPEX by fivefold in the previous seven years.