Railway Minister

Vande Bharat sleeper trains to undergo field trials soon: Ashwini Vaishnaw

The first prototype of the Vande Bharat sleeper trainset has been manufactured and will undergo field trials soon, the government informed Parliament on Friday. In a written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw added that the timeline for the rollout of the train is subject to a successful completion of the trials. According to the minister, the Vande Bharat sleeper trains, planned for long and medium-distance journeys, are equipped with modern features and passenger amenities. Vaishnaw highlighted some of the distinguished features and amenities of these trains, such as the automatic train protection system Kavach, latest fire-safety standards compliance, crashworthy and jerk-free semi-permanent couplers and anti-climbers, a regenerative braking system for energy efficiency, higher average speed with quick deceleration and acceleration, among others. Talking about medium-distance Vande Bharat train services, Vaishnaw said as on December 2, 136

India will continue to grow at 6-8% for next 5 years: Ashwini Vaishnaw

India will continue to grow at 6-8 per cent for the next five years due to the transformative changes ushered in by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the face of global turmoil and geopolitical tensions, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Friday. Addressing the NDTV Indian Of The Year Awards function, Vaishnaw said India's growth story was based on four pillars of massive public investments, focus on manufacturing and innovation, inclusive growth and simplification of laws. Vaishnaw said the world saw India as a ray of hope in times of global turmoil, two wars, disruption of supply chains and the hit taken by the world economy due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The minister credited Modi's "considered thought process" and "clearly laid out plans" for India's sustained economic growth. "We can say with a very high degree of confidence that India will continue to grow at 6-8 per cent real growth, 10-14 per cent nominal growth and a very moderate inflation for the

The Railways Amendment Bill 2024 seeks to simplify legal framework

Opposition fears privatisation

Over 99,000 women employees in railways, including 2,037 loco pilots: Govt

As of March 31, 2024, 99,809 women employees were working in the Indian Railways, including 2,037 loco pilots, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Wednesday. Vaishnaw was responding to questions raised by BJP MP Doctor Manna Lal Rawat who wanted to know the details regarding women employees in the Indian Railways and those who are in train operation. Rawat also asked about the number of women working as loco pilots in train operation and the percentage of women loco pilots as compared to men. Vaishnaw in response said, Direct recruitment to various posts in the Indian Railways is done as per the laid down procedure. Irrespective of gender, all the candidates fulfilling the prescribed eligibility criteria are eligible for the recruitment. As on 31.03.2024, 99,809 women employees are working in Indian Railways which includes 2,037 loco pilots, the Railway Minister added.

Railways gives Rs 56,993 cr subsidy on tickets every year: Ashwini Vaishnaw

A total subsidy of Rs 56,993 crore is given every year by the Indian Railways to all categories of passengers, with a 46 per cent rebate on every ticket, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said on Wednesday. Replying to multiple questions in the Lok Sabha on restoring discounts given to various categories of train passengers, he said if the price of a ticket is Rs 100, then the railways charges just Rs 54 for it -- a discount of 46 per cent. "A total of Rs 56,993 crore subsidy is given every year by the Indian Railways to all classes of passengers," Vaishnaw said during the Question Hour. Replying to another question on rapid train service, he said the railways has already started such a service -- Namo Bharat Rapid Rail -- between Bhuj and Ahmedabad and the satisfaction level of passengers is extremely high due to its superior service. Officials said Namo Bharat Rapid Rail has improved intercity connectivity by covering the 359-kilometre distance between Bhuj and Ahmedabad in 5 hou

CPI submits breach of privilege motion in RS against Ashwini Vaishnaw

CPI floor leader in Rajya Sabha P Sandosh Kumar on Monday submitted a breach of privilege motion against Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, accusing him of misleading the House by providing figures contradictory to the ministry's own data submitted earlier to the House. According to a statement issued by the CPI, the ministry, in response to a question raised by CPI MP P P Suneer on safety of railway workers, provided the number of 65 deaths and 569 injuries from 2014-15 to 2023-24, a period of 10 years. However, in an earlier reply in Rajya Sabha on December 8, 2023, the ministry said that 361 railway workers died due to train accidents during maintenance work on rail tracks in the last five years (from 2019-20 to 27.11.2023), the statement said. The CPI said the ministry's reply on Monday sharply contradict the figures provided by it earlier in the Rajya Sabha. The party said in a sub-question of the raised question, Suneer had asked for the zone-wise details of the number of dea

Railways achieve 97% electrification, targets 100% green rail network: Govt

Indian Railways is advancing the electrification of Broad Gauge railway lines at a mission-driven pace, achieving approximately 97 per cent electrification of its total Broad Gauge network, Union Minister of Railways, Information and Broadcasting, and Electronics & Information Technology, Ashwini Vaishnaw stated in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.Vaishnaw noted that around 45,200 route kilometres of the Broad Gauge network have been electrified since 2014-15. He highlighted a significant increase in the pace of electrification, from approximately 1.42 km per day during 2004-14 to about 19.7 km per day in 2023-24.He further emphasised that electric traction is not only more environmentally friendly but also approximately 70 per cent more economical compared to diesel traction.The Union Minister stressed the importance of a reliable power supply for electric train operations. The system incorporates multiple safeguards, including connections to the national grid through state and

ICF manufacturing high-speed trains having 280 kmph speed: Railway minister

The Integral Coach Factory, Chennai, in collaboration with BEML, is designing and manufacturing high-speed train sets that will have a design speed of 280 kmph, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told Parliament on Wednesday. In a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha, Vaishnaw said following the success of Vande Bharat trains under the "Make in India" initiative, the Indian Railways (IR) has now taken up designing and manufacturing of high-speed train sets. "The manufacturing cost is approximately Rs 28 crore per car (excluding taxes), which is highly competitive compared with other train sets," he said, replying to questions raised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MPs Sudhir Gupta and Ananta Nayak. "The design and manufacturing of high-speed train sets is a complex and technology-intensive process," the minister added. He also highlighted the major technical aspects, such as the design and manufacturing of the aerodynamic, airtight car body, design and manufacturing of ...

Railways recruited 500,000 employees since 2014: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said the department recruited five lakh employees in the last decade a number slightly higher than the previous decade. He made the statement at the national convention of the All India SC/ST Railway Employees Association, held on Ajani Railway Ground in Nagpur. The minister said the recruitment number between 2004 and 2014 was 4.4 lakh. He also highlighted the introduction of an annual recruitment calendar for the first time in Indian Railways' history. According to a press release, the event was attended by the association president B L Bhairava, Central Railway General Manager Dharamveer Meena, and South East Central Railway General Manager Neenu. It said Vaishnaw also appreciated Prime Minister Narendra Modi's gesture of giving a bow to the Constitution before entering Parliament. "Respect for the Constitution goes beyond symbolism; it is reflected in action," he said ahead of the Constitution Day on Tuesday. The minister said 12

Kerala CM writes to railway minister, cites 'safety violations' in jobs

Chief Minister Vijayan said that it was apparent that they had not got any training or imparted with awareness of safe working near railway tracks

Ashwini Vaishnaw visits New Delhi station to review passenger amenities

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw visited the New Delhi railway station on Friday evening to review passenger amenities and travel arrangements during the ongoing festive rush. After speaking to some of the passengers waiting on the platforms for their trains, Vaishnaw expressed satisfaction over the crowd management by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and rail officials. Some of the passengers also said that they did not face any difficulty in reaching the platforms due to proper crowd management. Speaking to mediapersons, Vaishnaw praised the initiatives taken by the railway officials for a smooth travel experience. He also praised the passengers for their cooperation in maintaining order at the station. According to Vaishnaw, the Indian Railways operated 4,500 special trains during Diwali and Chhath festivals last year and the number of such special trains has been increased to 7,435 this year. "Till October 31, 51 lakh people travelled on these special trains to reach their

Railways renews MoU with Switzerland to boost technical cooperation

The Railways on Tuesday renewed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC) of the Swiss Confederation to enhance technical cooperation between the two nations, an official statement said. The MoU, renewed and formalised through video conferencing, received approval from the ministries of Railways and External Affairs, it said. Addressing the MoU signing ceremony, Union Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said it will provide a comprehensive framework for collaboration to the Indian Railways in various areas, including technology sharing, track maintenance, management and construction, according to the statement issued by the Ministry of Railways said. This MoU also aligns with the government's commitment to modernise the Indian Railways, Vaishnaw said. Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal DETEC Albert Roesti said Switzerland's advanced railway technology will benefit the Indian Railways by improv

Cabinet approves 2 railway projects worth Rs 6,798 cr in Bihar and Andhra

The projects will bolster connectivity to Nepal, North-East India, and border areas, facilitating smoother movement for both passenger and goods trains

Rs 14,700 crore allocated for rail development in Madhya Pradesh: Vaishnaw

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said Rs 14,700 crore have been allocated for the development of railways in Madhya Pradesh. The railway minister on Sunday virtually flagged off a train service from Jaura to Kailaras in Morena district of MP after the route was converted from narrow gauge to broad gauge. Union Communications Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and MP assembly speaker Narendra Singh Tomar also showed green flags when the train departed from Jaura station. "Rs 14700 crore have been allocated for the development of railways in MP. Right now, five Vande Bharat trains are running in Madhya Pradesh. In the last 10 years, 222 kilometres of new rail lines, 1,200 kilometres of multi-tracking and 707 kilometres of gauge conversion projects have been completed in MP," Vaishnaw said in his virtual address at the event. "The Gwalior-Sheopurkalan (188 km) narrow gauge track is being converted into broad gauge at a cost of Rs 2,355 crore. The 61 kilometre route between Jaura to ...

Holding talks with states, police to prevent train sabotage bids: Vaishnaw

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Tuesday said the railway administration is on alert for potential train sabotage bids and is holding talks with the administration and police in several states to prevent any untoward incident. The central government treats security threats with the utmost seriousness and strict action will be taken against anyone attempting to sabotage trains, the railway minister told reporters at the Jaipur airport. "This is our commitment," he added. Vaishnaw arrived here on Tuesday to inspect a Kavach-fitted train to check the efficiency of the automatic train protection system at Sawai Madhopur. According to railway officials, the minister will board the Kavach-fitted engine of a train at 4 pm at the Sawai Madhopur railway station and travel for 45 minutes up to the Indargarh station. He is also scheduled to inspect a roof plaza constructed at the Gandhi Nagar railway station in Jaipur. Speaking to reporters, Vaishnaw said, "There is dialogue going on with

Vaishnaw to travel in Kavach fitted train for efficiency trial in Rajasthan

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw will travel in a Kavach-fitted train on Tuesday afternoon for a trial to check the efficiency of the automatic train protection system at Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. According to railway officials, Vaishnaw will board the Kavach-fitted engine of a train at 4 pm at the Sawai Madhopur railway station and travel for 45 minutes up to Indargarh Railway station. "In these 45 minutes, the train will run in (a) Kavach-equipped section at different speeds to see if it stops on its own at red signals without applying brake by the loco pilot," the official said, adding that a team of media persons will also accompany the minister for the trial. The Kavach system, also known as an Automatic Train Protection System (ATP), has been developed by the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO), and it can apply brakes automatically in an emergency when a train driver fails to act in time. The Railway Ministry has been working on this project for the last .

Kavach rail safety system passes trial, set for nationwide rollout by 2030

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called Kavach the 'future of rail safety,' with plans to install it in 10,000 locomotives and along 9,000 km of tracks in the first phase

Indigenous Kavach will be implemented in mission mode in country: Vaishnaw

Modern technology like Kavach that was developed in the country will now be implemented in a mission mode, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has said. The minister stated this in his welcome address before the flagging-off of three Vande Bharat trains by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday. Vaishnaw that India has elected the leadership of PM Modi for the third time that is decisive, visionary and forward-looking and its impact is visible in every aspect of life including in Railways. "It always lacked technology and investment and nothing changed for decades," Vaishnaw said alleging that a technical organisation like the Railways was politicised. "PM Narendra Modi brought extensive changes to it. Investment in Railways was ten times enhanced. He encouraged us to adopt new technologies. And above all he changed our mindset," Vaishnaw said. The minister referred to various initiatives like the electrification of tracks, the introduction of Vande Bharat trains, the trial of Van

Railways, defence should be above politics, says Union Minister Vaishnaw

Facing political heat over railway accidents, Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Wednesday said the national transporter should not be a subject of political blame game as it is the lifeline of the nation. Vaishnaw said some disturbing trends have emerged in some incidents and the railways was carrying out a detailed inquiry in each and every incident. He was responding to questions on incidents of derailment of trains due to placing of boulders and rods on the railway tracks. "There are some disturbing trends in some incidents, which should be taken seriously," Vaishnaw said. "Railways and defence are organizations which should be above politics. I don't believe that railways should be a subject of political blame game," the minister said in an interaction with reporters after the cabinet meeting. Vaishnaw said the railways was the lifeline of the country and if anything negative happens, every effort should be made to ensure that trains run in a very efficient manner. Respon

'Railways adds 14.5 km of new tracks daily': Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw

Ashwini Vaishnaw made the remarks during a Cabinet briefing in New Delhi and highlighted that a decade ago, the average construction pace in Railways was 4 km per day