Lok Sabha Question No. 723 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-02-07
Subject: Rationalization of Coaches in Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: GAJANAN CHANDRAKANT KIRTIKAR, KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH, T. RADHAKRISHNAN, SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD, ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, VIJAY KUMAR S.R., BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO, NARANBHAI KACHHADIA

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.723

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.02.2018

## RATIONALIZATION OF COACHES IN TRAINS

## 723.  SHRI GAJANAN KIRTIKAR:

KUNWAR HARIBANSH SINGH:

SHRI T. RADHAKRISHNAN:

DR. SUNIL BALIRAM GAIKWAD:

SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN:

SHRI S.R. VIJAYAKUMAR:

SHRI BIDYUT BARAN MAHATO:

SHRI NARANBHAI KACHHADIYA:

## Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Railways  is  planning  to  rationalize  the  number  of coaches in trains;
- (b)  if  so,  the  details  thereof  along  with  the  aims  and  objectives thereto;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  has  formed  a  Committee  to  suggest standard number of coaches for all times;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and the time by which the said committee is likely to submit its report to the Government;
- (e) whether extra infrastructure for the standardization of coaches is required and if so, the details thereof; and
- (f)  the  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government  to  increase  more trains  in  the  country  and  bring  back  the  good  rail  experience  to railway passengers?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## (SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)

- (a) & (b) Rationalization of rakes is an on-going process over Indian

Railway and inter-alia is aimed at improving utilization of coaching stock, ensuring  punctual  running  of  trains,  releasing  maintenance  slots  and improving turn-around time.

- (c) No, Madam.
- (d) Does not arise.
- (e) Yes, Madam. In some cases, up-gradation of infrastructural facilities like lengthening of platform/pit line etc may be required.
- (f) Subject to operational feasibility, commercial viability and availability of resources, Indian Railways make consistent effort to cater to the need of travelling passengers by introducing more trains. In its endeavor to provide additional services, during the period April 2017 to December 2017, Indian Railways have introduced 118 new train services.

To improve rail experience for railway passengers, several steps have been taken by Indian Railways (IR), some of which are listed below:

- (i) IR has decided to proliferate LHB coaches, which are technologically superior and have better riding and aesthetics. The Production units of  IR  would  be  producing  only  LHB  coaches  from  the  year  2018-19 onwards.
- (ii) Various  premium  services  like  Humsafar,  Tejas,  Antyodaya  and coaches  like  Deen  Dayalu  and  Anubhuti,  which  have  improved passenger amenities, have been introduced in service.
- IR  has  launched  Project  Swarn  with  the  objective  of  significantly improving  the  passenger  experience.  In  total,  14  Rajdhani  and  15 Shatabdi  trains  will  be  covered.  The  work  is  already  underway  at
- (iii) various divisions of IR.

- (iv) Two rakes of Shan-e-Bhopal Express (Train No.12155/12156) have also been  upgraded  at division level. Further, 69 trains have been identified for up-gradation in a phased manner on similar lines.

IR has planned to improve the interior of the Integral Coach Factory (ICF) design coaches. New interiors with better facilities will be provided in the existing coaches by refurbishing them during Mid Life Rehabilitation (MLR). Work in 700 such Model rake coaches is being progressively carried out, out of which more than 100 Model rake coaches have already been turned out.

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