Unveiling mega railways expansion: 5,000 km of tracks and 13,000 trains daily

The Indian Railways is embarking on a significant expansion drive, aiming to add new trains every day, according to a recent report. To facilitate uninterrupted train operations, the railway authorities plan to construct new tracks annually, with a target of laying out a network spanning 4,000-5,000 kilometers each year. This expansion initiative comes in the wake of public concerns over overcrowded platforms and trains during the mega Diwali week, where tragic incidents, such as a 40-year-old man losing his life while attempting to board a Bihar-bound train for Chhath, highlighted the challenges faced by the existing infrastructure.

Currently, India operates a total of 10,748 trains across the country. However, as part of the expansion drive, the railways intend to increase this number to 13,000 trains daily, as reported by NDTV. Additionally, there are plans to introduce 3,000 new trains on the tracks within the next 3-4 years. In a bid to enhance passenger capacity, the ministry aims to elevate the annual capacity from the existing 800 crore passengers to 1,000 crore.

Addressing travel time between destinations is another key focus of the railway ministry. To achieve this, plans are underway to lay down more tracks and increase the speed of trains. A study conducted by the Railways suggests that by improving acceleration and deceleration, a significant time reduction of two hours and twenty minutes can be achieved in traveling from Delhi to Kolkata. The adoption of the push and pull technique, currently used in about 225 trains manufactured annually in the country, is seen as instrumental in achieving this goal.

The push and pull technique involves a method of locomotion where both ends of a train have engines, allowing for better acceleration and deceleration. This technique is particularly evident in the flagship Vande Bharat trains, where the acceleration and deceleration capacity is reported to be four times higher than that of current trains. Implementing such advancements in train technology is a crucial aspect of the Railways’ strategy to enhance efficiency and reduce travel time.

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