2 High Speed Rail Routes; and 26% of New Express Trains announced in the Railway Budget-2014 to benefit Passengers on South Central Railway

Shri D V Sadananda Gowda, Hon’ble Minister for Railways, presented the Railway Budget for the FY 2014-15 to the Parliament today, ie. 8^th July 2014. The salient features of this Rail Budget pertaining to South Central Railway are furnished below:

Summary of Highlights:

     It is noteworthy that South Central Railway has got a lion’s share of the new Express Trains announced in this Budget. Out of 43 New Express Trains announced for the entire Indian Railways, 11 Express Trains either originate or pass through SCR system, benefiting the passengers in this region.

Taking into account the 15 New Express Trains announced in the Interim Rail Budget presented in February 2014, SCR gets a whopping 26 New Express Trains for the FY 2014-15. This is higher in number compared to 25 New Trains – 21 Express and 4 Passenger – announced for SCR in the last year’s Rail Budget in 2013.

    

    Out of nine rail routes, which have been are proposed for upgradation to enable running of trains with higher speeds, two routes fall under the jurisdiction of South Central Railway.

   

   ·The Hon’ble Railway Minister stated specifically to consider the requirements of Railway Projects in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana so as to give necessary economic boost after holding co-ordination meetings. A joint committee of Railways and State Government Officials will examine all the issues concerning Railways in the newly formed States of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.

A. MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTS

    

    1.Efforts will be made to set up High-speed Rail Routes to run trains with enhanced speeds of 160-200 kmph in select sectors so as to significantly reduce travel time between major cities. It is significant that two of the nine identified routes are o­n SCR. These are:

i.Hyderabad – Chennai

ii.Secunderabad – Nagpur

    

    2.There are 29 Projects running in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana at an estimated cost of Rs.20,680 Crores. Railways will hold a coordination meeting with the officials of the newly created States to consider their requirements so as to give necessary economic boost.

    

     3.A committee of Railways and State Government Officials will examine all the issues concerning Railways in the twin states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Further action will be taken after receipt of the report of the Committee. 

B. PROJECTS

·         New Line Surveys to be taken up during 2014-15:'

i. Aurangabad – Chalisgaon 

C.NEW TRAIN SERVICES

Out of the 43 New Express Trains announced in this Rail Budget, 26% ie. 11 Express Trains will cater to the needs of SCR’s passengers. These are:

• Originating Express Trains (05)

1.     Secunderabad – Hazrat Nizamuddin Premium AC Express

2.     Vijayawada – New Delhi AP Express (Daily)

3.     Kazipet – Mumbai Express (Weekly) via Balharshah

4.Bidar – Mumbai Express (Weekly)

5.H.S.Nanded – Bikaner Express (Weekly)

• Passing-through Mail/Express Trains (06)

1.     Shalimar – Chennai Premium AC Express

2.Jaipur – Madurai Premium Express

3.Kamakhya – Bengaluru Premium Express

4.Ahmedabad – Chennai Express (Bi-weekly) via Vasai Road

5.Vishakhapatnam – Chennai Express (Weekly)

6.Tatanagar – Bengaluru (Baiyyappnahalli) Express (Weekly) 

            Summary of New Train services o­n SCR for FY 2014-15

FY 2014-15	Mail / Express			% of Total Express Trains announced for Indian Railways
	Originating	Pass Through	Total
Announced in July Rail Budget	05	06	11	26% (11 out of 43)
Announced in the Interim Rail Budget in February	07	08	15	28% (15 out of 55)
Grand Total	12	14	26	27% (26 out of 97)