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The Northeast Frontier Railways (NFR) in 2025 has introduced 11 new trains, including the first ones connecting Mizoram, a statement said on Tuesday. The new services have improved passenger convenience and enhanced rail connectivity across the Northeast and adjoining areas, it said. Mizoram was put on the country's rail map in September, with the Sairang-Anand Vihar Rajdhani Express commencing weekly services. The Guwahati-Sairang Express was introduced as a daily service, and the Kolkata-Sairang Express started operating on a tri-weekly basis. The Guwahati-North Lakhimpur Jan Shatabdi Express was introduced on a bi-weekly basis, and the New Bongaigaon-Guwahati Passenger on a daily basis. The Tinsukia-Naharlagun Express was introduced as a tri-weekly service. Among the other trains introduced were Sealdah-Jalpaiguri Road Weekly Express, Danapur-Jogbani Vande Bharat Express operating six days a week, Erode-Jogbani Amrit Bharat Express on a weekly basis, and the daily Siliguri-Katih
In view of the rapid, sustained growth in demand for travel, the capacity of major cities to originate new trains needs to be doubled from the current level in the next five years. The current infrastructure needs to be augmented to meet the requirements of the coming years.Ashwini Vaishnaw, Union Minister of Railways, Information & Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, said, "We're expanding coaching terminals, enhancing sectional and operational capacities in various cities to meet rising passenger demand and reduce congestion. This move will upgrade our railway network and improve nationwide connectivity.''Meanwhile, the works for doubling the originating capacity by the year 2030 would include: Augmenting the current terminals with additional platforms, stabling lines, pit lines, and adequate shunting facilities; Identifying and creating new terminals in and around the urban area; Maintenance facilities, including mega coaching complexes; Increasing ..
The Congress on Sunday accused the Centre of "surreptitiously" raising railway fares and said instead of allocating greater funds from the Union Budget, the government is now trying to "squeeze the already-suffering" poor. The opposition party also demanded that the hike be scrapped immediately to ensure that passengers aren't burdened with higher fare. The Railway Ministry on Sunday announced a hike in ticket prices by 1 paise per km for ordinary class beyond a journey of 215 km, and 2 paise per km for non-AC classes of mail/express trains and AC classes of all trains. The new rates will be effective from December 26, 2025. Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal claimed that in yet another move to harass the poor and middle classes, the government is "surreptitiously" raising railway fares across the country. "Under the Modi regime, ordinary passengers have been subjected to a hell-ride,? with overcrowded trains, stampedes on railway stations and a total l
Aimed at providing fast and cost-effective parcel movement, Southern Railway for the first time would operate 'coast-to-coast' parcel express train service across Tamil Nadu and Kerala. This initiative, a first of its kind by the Indian Railways, marks a significant step toward strengthening regional parcel mobility. "The unique feature of this service is earmarking of dedicated parcel coaches to each destination, ensuring organised parcel handling and management. The train accommodates a wide range of commodities including white goods, perishables, consumer products and industrial materials. A first of its kind time tabled logistics service connecting key business hubs of Tamil Nadu and Kerala," a press release issued late on November 19 by the Southern Railway said. The parcel service would be operated on Fridays from Mangaluru Central and on Tuesdays from Royapuram, Chennai. The service would stop at Salem, Erode, Uttukkuli, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Shoranur, Tirur, ...
Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd on Monday reported an 18.73 per cent increase in consolidated net profit to Rs 170.47 crore in the September quarter, riding on electric vehicle traction motor and railway business in India. The company, which had posted a consolidated net profit of Rs 143.58 crore in the same quarter last fiscal, said its proposed joint venture in China with Jinnaite Machinery Co Ltd (JNT), announced in July this year, has been put in abeyance. Consolidated revenue from operations in the second quarter stood at Rs 1,138.29 crore as compared to Rs 922.19 crore in the year-ago period, Sona BLW Precision Forgings Ltd said in a regulatory filing. Total expenses in the second quarter were higher at Rs 931.24 crore against Rs 743.33 crore a year ago, the company said. Sona BLW Precision Forgings MD & Group CEO Vivek Vikram Singh said, "We achieved our highest-ever quarterly revenue, EBITDA, and net profit in Q2 FY26. Our revenue grew by 24 per cent year-on-year, ...
Airtel Business, the enterprise arm of Bharti Airtel, on Monday announced it has bagged a multi-year contract from Indian Railway Security Operations Centre (IRSOC) to deliver security services. Airtel will design, build, implement and operate a greenfield, multi-layered cybersecurity protection ecosystem that will serve as a defence barrier to safeguard the Indian Railways' IT backbone, while ensuring uninterrupted, secure and seamless digital operation, according to a release. With centralised security controls, Airtel Business will build multi-layer protection to secure the expansive database of the railways. "Airtel Business wins multi-year contract for the Indian Railway Security Operations Centre (IRSOC)," the release said, but did not divulge the financial details of the order. Ensuring a resilient and compliant secure backend, Airtel Business will also safeguard the end-to-end digital operations of the country's railway services, which include 1,60,000 employees distributed
The 50-km stretch of India's first bullet train project between Surat and Bilimora in Gujarat will open in 2027, and by 2029, the entire section between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be operational, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said here on Saturday. After becoming operational, the bullet train will cover the distance between Mumbai and Ahmedabad in just two hours and seven minutes, he said, stressing that India's first bullet train project is progressing very well. Vaishnaw visited the under-construction Surat bullet train station and inspected track installation works and its first turnout installation. "Overall progress of the first bullet train project is very good. The first 50-km section of the project between Surat and Bilimora will be open by 2027. We are preparing for that. By 2028, the entire Thane-Ahmedabad section will be commissioned, and by 2029, the entire Mumbai-Ahmedabad section will open," he told reporters. Vaishnaw stated that the speed potential of the main li
Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said the Vande Bharat Sleeper trains will be launched once the second train is ready for regular service. One train is ready for launch at Shakur Basti Coaching Depot in Delhi after undergoing necessary trials and testing, according to officials. Briefing the media, Vaishnaw said that the second train is being manufactured and will possibly be ready by October 15, 2025. "Both the trains will be launched together," he said. The minister emphasised that the second train is important to maintain the continuity of regular services. "That's why we are waiting for a second rake. Once we get it, we will decide any route and start operations," Vaishnaw added. Speculation is rife that the trains will be launched between New Delhi and Patna as Bihar is going to polls by the end of the year. Vaishnaw, along with Minister of State for Railways Ravneet Singh Bittu, briefed the media on the status of the existing and upcoming railway projects in ..