Indian Railways.Lifeline to the Nation ….

By : Tanay Prajapati & Vishal Vaibhav

Contents:

▪ INTRODUCTION

▪Travel

▪Hospitality

▪Catering

▪Services

▪Conclusion

INTRODUCTION

▪ India is a land of diverse culture, and Railways play a key role in not only meeting the transport needs of the country, but also in binding together dispersed areas and promoting national integration. Indian Railways have emerged as the sinews of the Indian economy, and have reached out to bring together the great Indian family.

• Indian railways was first introduced in India in the year 1853 by East India Company. The first railway route was from Bombay to Thane. Today, Indian railways serve as the best means of transport to India as well as is also an employer to 1.307 million Indians (2013).

• Indian Railways have been the prime movers to the Nation and have the distinction of being one of the largest railway systems in the world under a single management.

• As compared to road transport, the Railway has a number of intrinsic advantages. Indian Railways, therefore, rightly occupy pride of place in the growth and development of the nation.

• Apart from normal trains connecting almost all parts of the country, the Indian Railways also runs special luxury trains like the Palace on Wheels, Rajdhani Express, Shatbdi Express, Fairy queen etc.

TRAVEL

TRAVEL

▪ Rail transport is a commonly used mode of long-distance transportation in India. Almost all rail operations in India are handled by a state-owned organisation, Indian Railways, Ministry of Railways.

▪ The rail network traverses the length and breadth of the country, covering in 2011 a total length of 64,460 kilometres (40,050 mi).

▪ It is the 4th largest railway network in the world, transporting 7.651 billion passengers and over 921 million tonnes of freight annually, as of 2011. Its operations cover twenty eight states and three union territories and also provide limited service to Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan.

▪ Both passenger and freight traffic has seen steady growth, and as per the 2009 Railway budget presented by the Railway Minister, the Indian Railways carried over 7 billion passengers in 2009.

INDIAN RAILWAYS

HOSPITALITY

▪ The Railways have also focused on providing Hospitality to its travellers.

▪ Food, hospitality and cleanliness are among the major issues with the railways in the past.

▪ Railways has introduced many trains which pays importance to providing luxury and comfort to its travellers.

▪ For ex. Palace on wheels, Maharaja’s Express – “Worlds leading luxury train”, Deccan Odyssey, Golden Chariot, Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Mahaparinirvan Express, Bharat Darshan, Steam Express.

Maharajas' Express - The Finest Luxury Train

▪ The Maharajas' Express, offers five aptly crafted itineraries to provide the train travellers an experience to make them feel no less than royalty.

▪ Out of the five exclusive itineraries promoted by Maharajas' Express train, three itineraries are of 8 Days/7 Nihts viz. The Indian Splendour, The Heritage of India and The Indian Panorama passing through the rich and panoramic landscape and showcasing the beauty of destinations like Jaipur, Ranthambore, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Gwalior, Khajuraho, Varanasi and Lucknow.

▪ Maharajas' Express, bestowed the "World’s Leading Luxury Train" award at the World Travel Awards for two consecutive years in 2012 & 2013.

The Deccan Odyssey

▪ The Deccan Odyssey continues the legacy of princely sojourns by introducing fascinating journeys covering the length and breadth of the exotic and enchanting landscape of India!

▪ The juxtaposition of the traditional with the contemporary is beautifully presented through vintage cabins, gastronomic cuisines and lively off-board entertainment in each of the deluxe train journeys with Deccan Odyssey.

▪ Each journey on the Deccan Odyssey is an exploration of India's diversity, exotic locales and the discovery of timeless traditions; taking one on a flight of fancy as you experience the vibrancy, colours, sounds and visual sensations as the train moves through varying regions and rural countryside.

▪ Mysteries, intrigues unfold as the train snakes her way through Royal cities showcasing the opulence and extravagance of the palaces, the traditions and culinary wonders of cities and villages well protected from the sands of time.

Golden ChariotMany worlds, One Voyage

• The Golden Chariot is a royal experience, a journey that is much more than a luxury train ride. The Golden Chariot tour epitomizes the rich Indian heritage and journeys through one of the most exotic regions in the world.

• THE GOLDEN CHARIOT train named after the famous Stone Chariot in Hampi, a world heritage site, in Southern India will travel through timeless Historical Heritage Sites, Resplendent Palaces, Wildlife and Golden Beaches.

• It’s 7 Nights / 8 Days colorful journey begins every Monday from Bangalore and traverses through Mysore, visiting Srirangapatna, Mysore Palace; the Nagarhole National Park (Kabini) and continuing to the historical sites of Shravanabelagola, Belur, Halebidu, Hampi and thereafter entering into the triangular heritage site of Badami, Pattadakal, Aihole, and finally the Golden Beaches of Goa before ending in Bangalore.

Royal Rajasthan on Wheels

• The Royal Rajasthan on Wheels is the regal delight where every moment is woven together into an everlasting and immemorial experience to be lived and cherished forever.

• This tour is extensively planned to take you through the whispering sands of desert.

• The intriguing sagas of forts and palaces, and the adventurous escapades to the wilds; while you witness the luxuries on the train in a truly royal fashion.

• This train is newly built and designed in a contemporary royal style. You will be delighted with the magnificent interiors, sumptuous meals, expensive wines, and personalised service by the Khidmatgars, the likes of which you would rarely experience.

• The luxurious Royal Rajasthan on Wheels takes you through a seven day exploration of the vibrant Rajasthan.

• The magic of the splendid journey begins at New Delhi and prepares you to weave the fabric of delightful imagination becoming reality over the next seven days. Your royal journey begins from Delhi and takes you through various erstwhile princely states of Rajasthan like Jodhpur, Udaipur, Chittor, Swai-madhopur, and Jaipur. • After experiencing multifaced Rajasthan you will visit

Khajuraho temples unique gift to the world and then Varanasi, The holy city and city of temples and ghats,. In the end The TajMahal.at Agra. The entire expedition has been thoroughly planned like The place on wheels to take you back into the history.

CATERING

▪ The present Railway catering services is managed both departmentally (The Indian Railways) and through Licensed contractors. Catering facilities of thousands travelling by train everyday throughout the country, the turnover is enormous. For the departmental catering alone for the year 1984-85, was more than Rs. 40 crores, and the licences fees from the contractors’ in the same year was more than Rs. 80 lakh.

▪ Recently the Indian Tourist Development Corporation (ITDC) has been appointed as consultant for the improvement of railway catering. To this end, a new type of service of meals has been introduced on some major routes.

▪ Similar to airlines catering, the food is cooked in base kitchen (the major stations) and kept in hot cases in the pantry cars. The service has been extended to 30 pairs of trains resulting in a 20% increase in meal sales.

▪ The Railway also owns and operates two railway hotels at Ranchi and Puri

MORE SERVICES.

▪ Travel and transportation – Goods transport, tour planning and itinerary support.

▪ Luggage and postal services.

▪ Transportation support to forces such as Army, Air Force and Navy.

▪ Lifeline Express – “Hospital on wheels”

▪ Double decker A/C trains.

Amazing Facts

• The total distance covered by the 14,300 trains on the Indian Railways everyday, equals to three and half times the distance to moon.

• The first train on Indian soil ran between Bombay and Thane on 16th April 1853.

• Indian Railways has about 63,028 route kms. Of track.• It carries over 13 million passengers and 1.3 million tones of freight

everyday.• It runs about 14,300 train daily.• Indian Railways has about 7,000 railway stations.• The longest platform in the world is at kharagpur and is 2,733 ft. in length.• Nehru Setu on Sone River is the longest Railway Bridge.• 42 Railway companies operated in the country before independence.• Electric Locomotives are manufactured at Chittaranjan Locomotive works,

Chittaranjan.• Coaches are manufactured at ICF/ Chennai, RCF/ Kapurthala and BEML/

Bangaluru.• The National Rail Museum at New Delhi was set-up in 1977.• People employed in Indian Railway are about 1.6 million.• Classes of travel in Indian Railway : 1st AC, 2nd AC, 3rd AC, AC chair car,

Sleeper and General.

CONCLUSION

• It is one of the world's largest railway networks.• Indian Railways is the world's ninth largest

commercial or utility employer, by number of employees, with over 1.307 million employees. 

• It is the cheapest means of transport in India.• It provides daily services to people in india.• Best means of transportation as it passes through

almost all rural and urban areas.• Safest means of transportation.

Thank you ! Tanay Prajapati - 2241Vishal Vaibhav -

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