Page 2 - Indian Railway News

Vande Bharat sleeper clears final high-speed trial at 180 kmph: Railways

Indian Railways has achieved a significant milestone in its journey towards self-reliant rail technology with the successful completion of the final high-speed trial of the indigenously designed Vande Bharat sleeper train, ministry officials said on Wednesday. "The trial, conducted under the supervision of the Commissioner of Railway Safety (CRS), took place on the Kota-Nagda section, where the train achieved a maximum speed of 180 kmph," it added, without specifying a new date for its launch. The Vande Bharat sleeper train has missed several launch deadlines in the past. In mid-November, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that this train would be launched in December 2025. Vaishnaw shared a video of the safety trial on his social media handle X on December 30, showcasing a water-glass stability demonstration, in which glasses filled with water remained steady without spillage even at high speed. "Vande Bharat Sleeper tested today by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, ran at 1

Railway fare hike kicks in today: Here's how passengers are affected

Indian Railways has implemented a fresh fare hike from today, raising ticket prices by up to two paise per kilometre on select trains while sparing suburban services and season ticket holders

Train tickets to get costlier from December 26. Check revised fares

Railways says fare hike applies to longer journeys, suburban and short-distance travel spared

Train travel and excess luggage: Do passengers face airport-style charges?

Passengers can carry limited baggage free, but excess weight attracts charges under the railway rules

How Indian Railways plans to earn more from things usually thrown away

The Niti Aayog in July this year commissioned a study to analyse existing NFR sources, identify new areas of revenue generation, and propose actionable strategies for maximising NFR

Diwali special Vande Bharat Express: Check schedule, routes & more

Indian Railways has launched the Vande Bharat Festival Special Express for Diwali. The special trains will run on the New Delhi-Patna-New Delhi route, covering 1,000 km in 13.5 hours.

Railways spent ₹1.42 trn on capex in first six months of current fiscal

The ministry utilised 57% of its ₹2.52-trillion annual capital outlay in six months, led by spending on capacity augmentation, safety, and rolling stock

Indian Railways freight volume rises 4% in September, coal demand steady

Indian Railways' freight volume reached 127.5 MT in September 2025, with overall growth led by fertiliser, iron ore, and steel products, even as coal demand remained subdued

Cabinet approves ₹1,865.68 cr productivity-linked bonus for railway staff

The Cabinet approved a ₹1,865.68 crore productivity-linked bonus for 1.09 million railway employees, with a maximum of ₹17,951 per person, ahead of the festive season

India's first hydrogen train clears load tests, set for rollout soon

Earlier this year, the Railway Minister stated that the hydrogen fuel-run train engine developed by Indian Railways has the maximum horsepower in the world

East Coast Railway sees 9.69% growth in freight loading in Q1FY26

The East Coast Railway (ECoR) loaded a total of 68.19 million tonne of freight from April to June 2025, compared to 62.2 million tonne during the same period last year, a growth of 9.69 per cent, an official said. In the month of June this year, freight loading reached 23.15 million tonne, an increase of 7.72 per cent compare to over 21.49 million tonne loaded in June 2024. The daily average freight loading by East Coast Railway currently stands at 0.75 million tonne, keeping the zone on track to achieve its annual target for the fiscal year 202526, the official said. This consistent growth is attributed to efficient planning, improved operational management, and proactive coordination with freight customers across sectors like coal, iron ore, cement, and fertilizers, the official added.

Railways to resume direct recruitment for train control posts after 8 years

The railway ministry will fill 60 per cent posts of train controllers through the direct recruitment process conducted by the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB). According to the reforms announced by the ministry on June 25, 60 per cent vacancies in the control department will be filled with graduate-level candidates recruited directly by the RRB. "How this examination will be conducted and what it will be called are some of the issues yet to be decided by the competent authority," Dilip Kumar, Executive Director, Information and Publicity, Railway Board, said. Officials associated with the control department said till 2017, direct recruitment used to happen in the department through the Railway Traffic Apprentice Exams conducted by the RRB. "However, the examination was discontinued in 2017 after which direct recruitment in the control department was stopped and all posts used to be filled through the feeder cadre, such as guards, station masters and train clerks," a railway official

Railways to build 100 MEMUs and 50 Namo Bharat trains for short trips

Railways to produce 100 MEMU and 50 Namo Bharat trains, launch cargo terminal in Manesar, and pilot advance charting to improve short-haul travel and logistics efficiency

Railway stocks rally: RVNL, IRFC, BEML gain up to 11%; Here's why

The surge was led by names like Titagarh Rail, RVNL, IRFC, and BEML. Titagarh Rail Systems emerged as the top gainer, jumping 10.72 per cent to close at ₹895.85, followed by RVNL, which climbed 10.45