Indian Railways Archives - National Times

10 Feb

Indian Railways to Phase Out UTS Mobile App from March 1, Introduces RailOne as Unified Platform

Gurpreet Singh0 CommentsIndiaIndian Railways, RailOne app, railway digital services, unreserved ticket booking, UTS on Mobile

New Delhi, February 10: Indian Railways has announced that the UTS on Mobile application, commonly used for booking unreserved and suburban train tickets, will be discontinued from March 1, 2026. After this date, passengers will no longer be able to book tickets or access any services through the UTS app. Railway authorities have advised commuters to shift to the RailOne application well in advance to avoid inconvenience. RailOne has been launched as a comprehensive digital platform that integrates multiple railway services into a single application, replacing several existing apps. A large number of daily passengers rely on mobile ticketing, particularly…

01 Jan

India to Launch First Vande Bharat Sleeper Train on Kolkata–Guwahati Route, PM Modi to Flag Off Service

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndian Railways, Kolkata Guwahati train, PM Narendra Modi, Vande Bharat Sleeper Train

New Delhi, January 1, 2026: India is poised to achieve a significant milestone in railway travel with the launch of its first-ever Vande Bharat Sleeper Train on the Kolkata–Guwahati corridor. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will flag off the 16-coach semi-high-speed train in the coming days, Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced on Thursday. The new sleeper variant of the Vande Bharat Express has been designed to offer long-distance passengers a modern, comfortable, and affordable travel option. Capable of carrying more than 800 passengers, the train combines advanced technology with passenger-centric features aimed at enhancing overnight journeys between eastern and northeastern…

21 Dec

Indian Railways Announces Fare Revision From December 26, Ticket Prices to Rise Across Classes

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaDecember 26, fare revision, Indian Railways, railway ticket prices, train fare hike

New Delhi: Train travel in India is set to become costlier as Indian Railways has announced a revision in passenger fares, which will come into effect from December 26, 2025. The revised pricing will apply to tickets booked on or after the implementation date. Railway officials said the fare adjustment will impact several travel classes, resulting in an increase in ticket prices for passengers. The decision has been taken to strengthen revenue generation and help meet rising operational and maintenance costs. According to officials, the revised fare structure is expected to fetch an additional ₹600 crore for the national transporter.…

12 Dec

Indian Railways Records Historic Low in Train Accidents as Safety Investments Surge

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiafog safety devices, GRP, Indian Railways, railway safety, RPF, train accidents

New Delhi, December 12, 2025— Passenger safety on Indian Railways has reached a record high, with consequential train accidents dropping sharply from an annual average of 171 between 2004 and 2014 to just 11 so far in 2025–26, the Ministry of Railways said on Friday.Officials credited the dramatic improvement to sustained investments, modern technology and stricter safety protocols. Safety-related expenditure has nearly tripled over the past decade, rising from ₹39,463 crore in 2013–14 to ₹1,16,470 crore in the current fiscal year.The ministry highlighted a major expansion in fog safety devices, which are vital during low-visibility winters. Their numbers have soared…

19 Aug

Indian Railways to Launch Airport-Style Baggage Checks, Pilot in Prayagraj Division

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiabaggage rules, Indian Railways, Prayagraj division, railway luggage policy

New Delhi: Indian Railways is preparing to introduce stricter baggage regulations, bringing in airport-style security checks for train passengers. The initiative will begin as a pilot project in the Prayagraj division, where luggage will be weighed at stations before travelers are permitted to enter platforms. Passengers carrying excess baggage will face fines.The pilot program will be rolled out at major stations, including Prayagraj Junction, Prayagraj Chheoki, Subedarganj, Kanpur Central, Mirzapur, Tundla, Aligarh Junction, Govindpuri, and Etawah. To implement the system, electronic weighing machines are being installed at the entry gates of these stations.According to the new rules, the luggage allowance…

13 Jul

Railways to Install CCTV Cameras in Coaches to Enhance Passenger Safety

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, Technology, TrendingIndian Railways, Railways

New Delhi (National Times): Following the successful installation of CCTV cameras in passenger coaches, the Railways has decided to install CCTV cameras in all coaches. This move will significantly improve passenger safety. Miscreants and organised gangs take advantage of gullible passengers. With cameras, such incidents will significantly reduce. To preserve the privacy of passengers, CCTV cameras will be installed in the common movement area near the doors. The Union Minister for Railways, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and the Union Minister of State for Railways, Ravneet Singh Bittu reviewed the progress of CCTV Cameras’ installation in locomotives and coaches. The meeting held on…

30 Jun

Railway Ministry Hikes Fares for Mail, Express and AC Trains Effective July 1

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAC train fares, Indian Railways, mail express trains, train fare hike

New Delhi, July 1 — Passengers travelling in mail, express, and AC trains will have to pay slightly more from July 1, as the Railway Ministry has officially announced a hike in fares across various classes.According to an official circular issued on Monday, fares for non-AC classes in mail and express trains will increase by 1 paisa per kilometre, while all AC classes will see a fare hike of 2 paise per kilometre.Ministry officials had signalled the proposed revision earlier on June 24, but the detailed fare table specifying rates for different trains and class categories was released only on…

29 Jun

Indian Railways to Launch Upgraded Reservation System with Seat Selection and Early Charting

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndia, TechnologyIndian Railways, IRCTC, passenger reservation system, seat selection

New Delhi, June 29, 2025 — Indian Railways is poised to revolutionize its passenger reservation system, offering passengers the option to choose their seats much like in airlines, and rolling out several new digital features by the end of this year.A senior Railway Ministry official said the new system will not only enable seat selection but will also introduce a fare calendar to help travelers make cost-effective choices.“It also has integrated facilities for divyangjan, students, patients, etc.,” the official added.In another significant change, reservation charts currently prepared four hours before a train’s departure will now be finalized eight hours in…

16 Apr

Indian Railways Installs ATM Inside AC Coach of Panchavati Express in Unique Trial

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaAshwini Vaishnaw, Indian Railways, Onboard ATM, Panchavati Express

Mumbai, April 16, 2025: In a groundbreaking step to boost passenger convenience, Indian Railways has installed an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) inside an air-conditioned coach of the Panchavati Express, which runs between Mumbai and Manmad. This is the first time an ATM has been introduced aboard a moving train in India.Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video of the onboard ATM, highlighting the government's innovation drive in public transportation. The facility will allow passengers to withdraw cash during their journey, marking a significant leap in blending banking services with rail travel.The initiative, currently in trial mode, is expected to be…

16 Feb

Indian Railways Announces Compensation for Families of Deceased in New Delhi Railway Station Stampede

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsIndiaIndian Railways, Mahakumbh, New Delhi Railway Station

New Delhi (National Times): Indian Railways has announced compensation for the families of the victims who tragically lost their lives in the stampede at New Delhi Railway Station. According to an official statement, the families of the deceased will receive a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each. In addition, those seriously injured in the incident will be compensated with Rs 2.5 lakh, while those with minor injuries will receive Rs 1 lakh. Geeta, a worker at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash (LNJP) Hospital, where the victims were admitted, shared details of the tragic event. She revealed that between 10:00 and…