Page 2 - Railways

From Chenab bridge to Mizoram link: Railways scaled tough terrain in 2025

Indian Railways expanded into some of its toughest terrains in 2025, with landmark projects such as the country's first vertical-lift in Pamban, Tamil Nadu and the world's highest rail bridge on the Chenab river, providing an all-weather rail link to Kashmir. This year also saw rail connectivity reach Mizoram through the commissioning of the Birabi-Sairang line, completing the long-pending links to remote and strategically significant regions in the Northeast. These projects marked a major push towards integrating difficult geographies with the national rail network. In 2025, the Ministry of Railways launched 42 projects in the country, collectively valued at more than Rs 25,000 crore. The railways also operated a record number of special trains, and rapidly expanded Vande Bharat services with 15 new trains introduced during the year. A total of 164 Vande Bharat Express trains now run in the country, the railway ministry said in its year-end review. According to the Ministry of ...

Raipur among 48 cities to double train operating capacity over five years

The works for doubling the originating capacity by 2030 would include augmenting the current terminals with additional platforms, stabling lines, pit lines, and adequate shunting facilities

Southern Railway to double train capacity in major cities by 2030: Vaishnaw

Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said the Southern Railway will double train capacity in Chennai and Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu and Ernakulam in Kerala by 2030 to meet the growing demand. He announced comprehensive upgrades for coaching terminals in Southern Railway hubs, including Chennai, Coimbatore and Ernakulam (Kochi) to facilitate this. "We are 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," a press release issued by Southern Railway quoted the minister as saying. The strategy addresses rapid travel growth through additional platforms, stabling lines, new terminals, maintenance facilities and multi-tracking, it said. Chennai and Coimbatore were among the 48 major cities identified for this time-bound capacity doubling, it added. According to the release, Chennai Egmore station ...

Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail sees ₹85,801 crore spend so far: Ministry

The rail ministry said the Mumbai-Ahmedabad high-speed rail project has achieved 55.63 per cent physical progress and 69.62 per cent financial progress as of November 30, 2025

Kavach rollout delayed as Railways misses Mumbai-Delhi-Kolkata deadline

The Railway Ministry has missed the deadline to install the automatic train protection system, Kavach, on the New Delhi-Mumbai and New Delhi-Howrah routes by December 2025. However, the officials are hopeful of operationalising the system by 2026. Kavach is an indigenously developed Automatic Train Protection (ATP) system, which is a highly technology-intensive system. It helps loco pilots in running trains within specified speed limits by the automatic application of brakes in case they fail to do so. According to officials, significant progress has been made with the commissioning of about 25 per cent of the work and installation of crucial components on the remaining routes. "We are doing our level best to operationalise Kavach on the Mumbai-Delhi and Delhi-Kolkata route, hoping that it will be achieved in 2026," officials said. The Railway Ministry on August 7, 2024, said that Kavach work would be completed on the said route by March 2025. It announced the extension of the ...

Railways to double train capacity in major cities by 2030: Ashwini Vaishnaw

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 ..

Indian Railways to double originating train capacity in 48 cities by 2030

Indian Railways plans to double the capacity of major cities to originate new trains by 2030 through terminal upgrades, new terminals and maintenance facilities to meet travel demand

Saleem Ahmad assumes charge as RVNL chairman and managing director

Rail Vikas Nigam Limited said Saleem Ahmad has taken charge as its new chairman and managing director. He previously served as director (projects) at NBCC (India)

Run-up to FY27 Budget: Which sectors got biggest boost in last 3 Budgets?

The Confederation of Indian Industry expects the FY27 Budget to focus strongly on boosting investments to sustain India's high growth momentum

Congress accuses govt of surreptitiously raising rail fares, seeks rollback

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

Railways hikes passenger fares for 2nd time in FY26; move may add ₹600 cr

'Modest' fare hike to have minimal impact on passengers while adding ₹600 crore to railway revenues, officials say, as costs rise and freight rates remain unchanged

Elara Securities sees up to 60% upside in BEML stock price; here's why

Elara Securities has maintained a 'Buy' on the stock, citing expected double-digit earnings growth during FY25-28E, and a rising order pipeline ensuring steady revenue visibility

Indian Railways electrifies 99.2% of broad gauge network, tops global peers

This achievement is expected to significantly reduce India's carbon footprint, as rail transport emits 89 per cent less CO2 than road transport

India offers most affordable train fares, says Rail Minister Vaishnaw

Rail ticket prices are most affordable in India as compared to neighbouring and developed countries, and the Indian Railways gave Rs 60,000 crore subsidy last year to keep the ticket prices low, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday. Replying to a question by Congress member M K Vishnu Prasad in the Lok Sabha on whether the government plans to restore the rail ticket discount to senior citizens as it was before Covid, Vaishnaw said the prices of tickets in India are about five or 10 per cent of the prices in developed countries. "Even compared to neighbouring countries, the ticket is kept at a very, very affordable price," the minister said during the Question Hour. Last year, the Indian Railways gave about Rs 60,000 crore subsidy so that the passenger transport can remain affordable, he said. "Even compared to our neighbouring countries, India is providing the most affordable transportation to our citizens or passengers," Vaishnaw said.

Loco pilots push for FDTL-like rest rules as IndiGo crisis continues

A union for loco pilots has demanded norms similar to those for airline pilots, including capping duty hours at six hours for passenger trains and eight hours for goods trains

NCRTC clears DPR for Namo Bharat link across Gurugram-Faridabad-Noida

The DPR for the ₹15,000-crore Namo Bharat corridor is ready, clearing the way for a new 61-km high-speed link connecting Gurugram, Faridabad and Noida

Railways gave 508K jobs in 11 years; hiring on for 120K posts: Vaishnaw

There were 411,000 recruitments in the Indian Railways during the period from 2004-2005 to 2013-and 508,000 between 2014-2015 and 2024-2025

Ministry of Railways promotes Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh and Pratika Rawal

Earlier in November, the three players were felicitated at Rail Bhawan by Union Minister for Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw

NMP 2.0: Railways targets ₹2.5 trillion asset monetisation in five years

Plan to bring in new freight trains through private funding

Southern Railway to launch coast-to-coast parcel train service for 1st time

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, ...