Lok Sabha Question No. 1997 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-03
Subject: Increase in Trains and Coaches
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Sumedhanand Saraswati

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1997 TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.07.2019

## INCREASE IN TRAINS AND COACHES

†1997. SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  there  is  a  huge  waiting  list  in  trains  running  in  the country and a situation of unavailability of tickets is on the rise;
- (b) if  so, whether the Government is making efforts to solve the said problem;
- (c) if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether the Government  is considering to increase the number of trains or coaches to solve the said problem;
- (e) if so, the details thereof;
- (f) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (g) whether the Government  is considering to increase the number of tatkal coaches in case of long waiting list; and
- (h) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (h):  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT  REFERRED  TO  IN  REPLY  TO  PARTS  (a)  TO  (h)  OF UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1997 BY SHRI SUMEDHANAND SARSWATI  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK  SABHA  ON  03.07.2019 REGARDING INCREASE IN TRAINS AND COACHES

(a) to (f):  In the computerised Passenger Reservation System (PRS), confirmed berths/seats are allotted  on first  come  first  served  basis till  the  availability  and  thereafter  Reservation  Against  Cancellation (RAC)/Waiting List tickets are issued. The status of RAC/Waiting List tickets get automatically updated against the cancellation of confirmed berths/seats and also against release of unutilised reservation  quotas.  Further,  on  Indian  Railways,  demand  is  not uniform. It varies during lean and peak periods and this lean and peak period is also not uniform for all parts of the country. Moreover, trains running on popular and convenient timings with lesser stoppages and running  time  are  generally  well  patronized  and  also  experience waiting  list  almost  throughout  the  year.    However,  other  trains  not having these features are chosen by passengers for travel only as a second alternative and are, therefore, not fully patronized.

The  details  of  approximate  number  of  waiting  list  passengers from the financial year 2017-18 onwards are as under:-

(Figures in Crores)

| Financial Year    |   Total No. of waiting list passengers remained Waiting List after preparation of reservation charts |
|-------------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| 2017-18           |                                                                                                 2.84 |
| 2018-19           |                                                                                                 3.02 |
| 2019-20(Till May) |                                                                                                 0.67 |

Waiting list of trains is monitored on regular basis and to cater to additional rush during peak periods special trains are run and load of  existing  trains  are  augmented  subject  to  operational  feasibility. Accordingly, during the year 2018-19, 106 pairs of new train services have  been  introduced  and  487  coaches  have  been  utilized  for permanent augmentation. Further, to cater to the rush of passengers during  peak  season,  summer,  vacation,  festival  etc.,  34237  special train  trips  have  been  operated  and  72618  coaches  have  been attached on temporary basis, during 2018-19.

Further, with a view to providing confirmed accommodation to waiting list passengers and to ensure optimal utilisation of available accommodation, a scheme known as Alternate Train Accommodation (ATAS) known as 'VIKALP' has been introduced to cover all types of trains  on  all  sectors.  The  scheme  aims  at  providing  waiting  list passengers accommodation in alternate train having vacant accommodation. For this facility, waiting list passenger has to give an option at the time of booking of ticket & passengers with waiting list  status  at  the  time  of  preparation  of  first  reservation  charts  are shifted to other trains, subject to availability of vacant accommodation.

(g) & (h): There is no concept of Tatkal coach. Power for earmarking of Tatkal accommodation in different classes has been delegated to Zonal Railways who decide the extent of Tatkal accommodation to be earmarked in the trains keeping in view the utilization pattern in that class during the previous financial year as well as availability of accommodation. The accommodation so earmarked, however, in no case should exceed the limit of 30% of the total accommodation in that train.

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