{"id":5910,"date":"2026-02-12T18:07:33","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T18:07:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thefrontpage24.com\/?p=5910"},"modified":"2026-02-12T18:07:33","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T18:07:33","slug":"indian-railways-provides-affordable-travel-to-720-crore-passengers-annually","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thefrontpage24.com\/?p=5910","title":{"rendered":"Indian Railways Provides Affordable Travel to 720 Crore Passengers Annually"},"content":{"rendered":"<h4><em>New train services, expanded non-AC facilities, and low fares strengthen India\u2019s rail transport network<\/em><\/h4>\n<p>TFP Bureau, New Delhi, 11 Feb 2026: Indian Railways continues to reinforce its position as one of the most affordable and accessible transport networks globally, providing travel services to over <strong>720 crore passengers annually<\/strong>. In the first nine months of the current financial year 2025-26, Indian Railways has introduced <strong>245 new trains, extended 101 existing services, and increased the frequency of eight others<\/strong> across the country. Additionally, approximately <strong>65,000 special trains<\/strong> were operated to meet festive, seasonal, and holiday travel demand, while <strong>767 coaches were permanently added<\/strong> to enhance passenger accommodation.<\/p>\n<p>The expansion reflects a strategic focus on <strong>modernizing rail infrastructure, improving passenger comfort, and providing affordable travel for low- and middle-income families<\/strong>. To cater to growing demand, Indian Railways operates <strong>57,200 non-AC coaches<\/strong>, accounting for roughly <strong>70% of the total 82,200 coaches<\/strong>, and providing approximately <strong>54 lakh non-AC seats<\/strong>, or 78% of all seats. These include general and sleeper coaches, designed to accommodate the majority of passengers who seek affordable travel options. The remaining <strong>25,000 AC coaches<\/strong> offer enhanced comfort for premium passengers.<\/p>\n<p>Indian Railways has also introduced <strong>new design trainsets<\/strong> aimed at improving travel quality and efficiency:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Vande Bharat Chair Car Services<\/strong>: 164 services now operate with modern coaches, advanced safety systems, and improved passenger amenities, offering a semi-high-speed alternative at fares <strong>nine times cheaper than Japan and three times cheaper than China<\/strong> for similar distances.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vande Bharat Sleeper Services<\/strong>: Two services cater to long-distance passengers with modern safety features and comfortable sleeping arrangements.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Amrit Bharat Services<\/strong>: Fully non-AC trains providing affordable options for low- and middle-income families, comprising 11 general coaches, eight sleeper coaches, a pantry car, and two luggage\/divyangjan coaches. Currently, 54 Amrit Bharat Express services operate nationwide.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Namo Bharat Rapid Rail Services<\/strong>: Four services enhance suburban and regional travel, offering speed, comfort, and convenience for short-distance commuters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The railways also continue to operate <strong>special trains<\/strong> during major festivals such as Holi, Durga Puja, Diwali, Chhath, Christmas, Sabrimala, and Id-ul-Fitr, ensuring that passengers\u2019 travel needs are met during peak periods. In 2025-26 alone, <strong>65,000 special trains<\/strong> were operated, supplementing regular services and adding temporary and permanent coaches to meet high demand.<\/p>\n<p>Over the past decade, Indian Railways has consistently focused on <strong>maintaining affordable fares while expanding services<\/strong>. Passenger fares in India remain among the lowest globally. Ordinary class fares are <strong>2.5 times cheaper than neighbouring countries like Pakistan and Sri Lanka<\/strong>, while semi-high-speed services such as Vande Bharat trains cost only <strong>\u20b92.19 per PKM<\/strong>, compared to <strong>\u20b97 in China and \u20b920 in Japan<\/strong>. This affordability is made possible through substantial subsidies; in 2023-24, Indian Railways provided <strong>\u20b960,466 crore in subsidies<\/strong>, translating to an average 45% concession per passenger. Additional concessions continue for categories such as persons with disabilities, patients, and students.<\/p>\n<p>Passenger growth reflects this strategy: in general\/unreserved coaches, the number of passengers increased from <strong>553 crore in 2022-23 to 651 crore in 2024-25<\/strong>, showing steady annual growth. To meet this demand, Mail and Express trains typically feature <strong>12 non-AC coaches and 8 AC coaches<\/strong> in a 22-coach composition, prioritizing affordability and access.<\/p>\n<p>The current infrastructure expansion is part of a broader national transport growth initiative. Since 2014, India has added approximately <strong>35,000 km of railway tracks<\/strong>, <strong>58,232 km of national highways and expressways<\/strong>, <strong>90 operational airports<\/strong>, and <strong>848 km of metro network across 21 new cities<\/strong>, reflecting a significant modal shift in passenger and freight transport.<\/p>\n<p>In terms of fare management, Indian Railways undertakes <strong>continuous rationalization<\/strong> to ensure affordability and operational sustainability. In FY 2025-26, two minor fare adjustments were implemented, with increases ranging from <strong>half paise to two paise per kilometer<\/strong>, leaving essential services and suburban travel fares unchanged. These adjustments are carefully calibrated to balance service costs, socio-economic considerations, and competition with other transport modes.<\/p>\n<p>Union Minister for Railways, Information &amp; Broadcasting, and Electronics &amp; Information Technology, <strong>Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw<\/strong>, highlighted these developments in a response to questions in the Lok Sabha, emphasizing Indian Railways\u2019 <strong>commitment to affordable, safe, and reliable travel<\/strong> for all sections of society.<\/p>\n<p>With expanding services, modern trainsets, enhanced safety, and <strong>one of the most cost-effective fare structures in the world<\/strong>, Indian Railways continues to be the backbone of affordable mass transit in India, meeting the mobility needs of millions while supporting socio-economic growth across the country.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New train services, expanded non-AC facilities, and low fares strengthen India\u2019s rail transport network<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5267,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[116,353,27,1],"tags":[700],"class_list":["post-5910","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-breaking-news","category-ministry-of-railways","category-national","category-uncategorized","tag-indian-railways"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.9 - 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