Tips for Planning Your Journey

Indian railway is without a second thought the lifeline of our country. It is such a wide network and it carries nearly 23 million passengers every day. With so many trains running round the clock, planning your travel could be a frightening task. It takes a lot of planning by the railway employees to plan train timings and keep them as they are supposed to be. But sometimes trains get delayed due to certain circumstances. This makes travelling more difficult. Hence, it is important that you plan your travel and to do that you must know and keep certain things in mind.

1) Classes of Indian train: There are six classes for travelling in Indian railways. To begin with, we have 1st AC which is luxurious, Air-conditioned and most expensive of all. There are 2 or 4 berths and a wash basin in a cabin. It comes with bedding and is very luxurious. Next to 1st AC is 2nd Ac. It is also Air-conditioned with 4 bunks together and 2 on the side. These are not as fancy as 1st Ac but still luxurious. It comes in half the cost of 1st Ac along with the bedding. The 3rd AC has 6 bunks in a compartment and 2 on the sides. These are usually more crowded than the 1st and 2nd AC and isn’t luxurious at all. It doesn’t come with bedding. Then comes 1st class Non-AC. This is much cheaper and doesn’t come with bedding and Air-Condition. You will also come across sleeper class, which is usually crowded. It is like 3rd AC, but it doesn’t have Air-condition and bedding. And then there is unreserved class, which is amazingly crowded and cheap. These are open cars and have benches for seating. In some short distance trains, you will also get to see AC chair cars.

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2) Special tips: If you are planning to see the real India, you must travel in sleeper class because real India travels in sleeper and unreserved compartments. But if you cannot stand the crowd, you have an overnight journey, you have a long journey ahead or if you seek comfort and luxury during travel, you should consider travelling in AC coaches. For short journey, you can travel in AC chair car.

3) Reservations: It is better to plan your journey in advance. Reservations can be hard to get on the last moment. And if you don’t plan your travel in advance, you might miss certain benefits. For example, if you book a ticket for a journey of more than 500 km, you can take a 2 days break at any station enroute after 500 km. Also, a single circular journey ticket includes 8 days of breaks in between. But if you are not the kind of person who plans their travel in advance, you can book your ticket in tatkal, but it is expensive. You can book your travel tickets online as well through IRCTC or other websites that provide such facility. You can either take the printout or carry your ticket on your phone in form of message sent by the booking site.

Best Mobile Apps for Tracking PNR Status

After you have booked a ticket in wait list or RAC, your priority turns to be checking the status of your reservation every now and then. But then you cannot always check it on your laptop and sometimes using mobile browser gets irritating. Well then, I have for you some smart android apps for checking the Indian railway PNR status on your mobile. So, let’s go:

1) PNR status and Train info: You can download this app from your Google pay store and check you PNR status by clicking on the PNR status from the main menu and then entering the PNR number. You can also check the status from your IRCTC account via this app. Apart from this, you also get options for saving your e-tickets, trains running between stations, train schedules, train running status, seat availability and fares.

2) Indian rail PNR status enquiry: The interface of this app is very simple. You open the app, enter your PNR number and obtain the status. It saves the PNR number in its memory so when you want to check it again you don’t have to have the number at hand. You just have to enter first one or two digits and the number will be displayed in the list.

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3) PNR and Indian rail enquiry: This app has a beautiful UI, and with this app, you can check your PNR anytime and anywhere. You can easily plan your travel and check your PNR with this app. Apart from this, you can also see your PNR history, book tickets via IRCTC, Find trains, check seat availability, inquire about fair and so on. You can also mail all the details to your friends through this app.

4) PNR status: This app works brilliantly on all handsets and software platforms. Along with PNR status, you can also check other details. It has both SMS support and internet support that can be selected as per your ease. It also saves your PNR number hence you only have to remember first few digits.

5) PNR status notifier: Through this app, you can book your tickets and automatically get notified about its wait list status. You can also check your PNR status. This app keeps you notified about your PNR status. It is simple to use and is hassle free.

6) IRCTC info-PNR status: You can get this app from your mobile’s play store. It is a platform provided by IRCTC for keeping a track of your reservations. Just enter your PNR number and the details will be displayed on your screen.

7) Indian Railway PNR status: After you have done your reservation, a 10-digit numeric code is generated, which is called passenger name record or PNR in short. This PNR number is used for keeping track of your reservation. To check your PNR status, you can download this app in your phone. It works well with every model and versions. You simply have to put the 10 digits numeric code given to you along with your reservation details and it will show you the status of your reservation.

Google India to provide Wi-Fi in every train!

People these days are glued to their phones and most youngsters travel by the train for college and work. Since at some stations the signals are awfully low, Wi-Fi can help. Well, Indians railways will soon have high speed Wi-Fi in trains across 400 stations in India.

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Google will be helping the rail sector to get Wi-Fi for all the convenient stations across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the U.S headquarters of Google and asked them to participate to help India become Digital; Google India too has taken a major step to help the people, who want access to the web.

The Indian Railways operated one of the largest rail networks and Rail Tel, Google’s team is working on bringing high speed internet to major stations in the next few months. The CEO of Google India has stated that the network will expand in a jiffy and reach some of the busiest stations across the country by the end of 2016. He also added that the speed is going to be fast and will have no problems at all.

People who are bored whilst travelling will soon be able to enjoy and download games, videos, movies, songs and much more by this Wi-Fi network. Google India is also planning to expand at almost every station possible with the help of Rail Tel and other partners, in the coming future.

Google had also launched the Android One in the previous year to help all the people to get access of smartphones and internet to explore and learn more. They have also made YouTube and Google Maps available offline plus you can download web pages faster without spending your data balance. There is nothing Google isn’t doing to help the people.

Not just all this but to also help those who cannot read or speak English, Google India had launched the Indian Language Internet Alliance in the previous year. This service has been helping a lot of people who do not have any access to English language. Hindi searches, keyboards and supports have made it easier for every person to use the web pages.

We are sure this Wi-Fi project is going to make life easier for everyone travelling daily by the trains. This is also a good mode for the safety of women and young kids, who have internet features in their phones. People will soon be able to quickly Google search any emergency numbers and contacts when they need it.

Hybrid vacuum toilets are in works!

The Railway Board has a new idea to incorporate vacuum and Bio toilets. This new type of toilet will be known as the ‘hybrid vacuum toilet.’ Stinking washrooms have always been an issue in every train. More and more passengers are becoming hygiene conscious these days. On Monday, a trail run of the vacuum toilets was launched on Dibrugarh Rajdhani. There will be an observation made for few days regarding this new service.

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The hybrid vacuum toilet has been fitted in the First AC coach. This service has cost around 3 lakh and it is also equipped with bio-digester system. Many who have travelled by aircrafts are aware about vacuum toilets.

According to the plan decided, the railway sector will be installing 80 hybrid vacuum toilets on Shatabdi Express. The rail sector has floated worldwide tenders for the installation of the toilets at a cost of around Rs. 25 crore. Multinational companies from across the world like USA, Spain, Germany and Denmark have also shown keen interest in the installing project, stated an official who is a part of the project.

The best part about the entire project is that the toilets are environment-friendly and the consumption of water will be lesser than before. Also, the cleanliness factor matters a lot. The same vacuum toilet will be installed at New Delhi Railway station also. For now, trains like Shatabdi and Rajdhani have been equipped with the bio toilets featuring controlled discharge system. An official, who is part of this project, stated that the waste automatically gets discharged after the trains gain the speed of 30 km per hour thus preventing the disposal at the stations.

Till now 17,388 toilets have been replaced with the new bio-toilets. More 17,000 will be replaced by the end of the year.

This is a good way to save water since a conventional toilet takes up 10 to 12 litres of water per flush whereas a vacuum toilet only takes up around 500 ml of water per flush. Most of the foreign countries use the vacuum toilet system in their trains. And since the Indian Railways are all set to modernize and change the railway systems in India, this change was important and will be helpful.

Japan ready to invest $140 billion for modernizing 400 railway stations in India

Indian railways are soon going to become different, modern and better! Japan is going to contribute towards modernizing 400 railway stations all across the country. Not just this, but Japan will also invest $140 billion for Indian Railways in the next five years.

The project is all set to begin and the first step is going to be of studying opportunities. A Japanese delegation is going to visit India anytime soon and research and see what opportunities are there for the industries in the development plans for Indian Railways. 400 stations will be upgraded across India.

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Suresh Prabhu, India’s Railway Minister was recently in Japan and he discussed to make cooperation in order to strengthen the rail sector. He had several high level conferences with Mr. Shinzo Abe, the Japanese PM, Taro Aso Deputy PM and Finance Minister with few other seniors and ministers. Suresh Prabhu highlighted that Indian Railways needs to be a major destination towards infrastructure investment.

The discussion also included the fact that certain areas of the railways need to be modernized and there has to be technological upgrade with the help of Japanese railways and companies. Japan has agreed to modernise and upgrade. Other than that, they have also agreed in assisting India’s public transport in reaching the zero-accident mission.

A MoU will be signed by the Research Designs & Standards Organisation with the Railway Technical Research Institute of Japan to start out the project and researches to finalise the plan.

Mr. Prabhu had also held few other meetings with the heads of some of the leading financial institutions in which he highlighted the investment plan for the Indian Railways. Apart from modernizing and developing railway stations, Japan will also help the Indian rail sector in providing expert tips and technology to maintain sanitation issues and also to develop clean, odourless toilets at the stations and in the trains.

Not just this but the country is also planning out developments in Indian Railways for high speed railway in India.

We hope that Suresh Prabhu, who is on a two-nation trip to Japan and Korea since the 7th of September gears in Korea to provide investments and resources for the development of Indian Railways.

 

ISRO systems for unmanned railways crossing

The new security warning systems for any unmanned railway crossings, which were developed with the help of the ISRO, are all set to be rolled out. There a number of things that the Government departments want ISRO to help with. Some of them are, making yoga popular, keeping a check on oil spills, securing any unmanned crossings at the railway stations, mapping areas of mosquito breeding and snake bites.

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Around 15,000 officials from state and central governments were a part of the daylong meeting, which was held on Monday with the senior ISRO scientists. There was a long discussion about many different technological problems.

All the ministry departments stated that they wanted ISRO to train their staff so that there is help when it comes to space technologies. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi has called this meeting as he was very overwhelmed by the ISRO facilities he noticed last year on his visit. The last final session of the assembly was held on Monday and Mr. Modi was a part of the entire meeting. Before this, eight secretaries discussed their presentations and summarised many improvements needed.

Narendra Modi has already made announcements of the new systems. He also stated that this technology will utilise similar technology, which helps airline pilots to alert their passengers before they are going hit an air pocket or when they are entering dense clouds.

The PM is also planning on finding new cost-effective ways to bring in new technologies to safeguard the country. He had spoken about this project to the scientist when he was in Varanasi few months ago. Mr. Modi is very happy that scientists took a note of it and found the correct solution in just four months.

This new technology is going to improve the facilities at the Railway Stations and save lives, as well.

Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu meets Japanese PM!

Our Railway Minister, Mr. Suresh Prabhu is currently on a long trip. He will be visiting two nations during the entire week. Yesterday, the Railway Minister met Mr. Sinzo Abe, who is the Prime Minister of Japan. The two met at Tokyo and had a long discussion. It is heard that there will be cooperation between the two countries to bring in the zero accident target in Indian Railways.

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Railway Minister, Suresh Prabhu has already decided that he will be heading to South Korea next to explore any possibilities to get their co-operation for high speed bullet trains for Indian Railways. While the railways are facing a lot of train accidents in recent times, Japan is well-known for having a zero accident rate when it comes to the rail sector.

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Besides that, Japan is also involved in the building of Western Dedicated Freight Corridor. The railways are in course of importing around 40 high powered electric engines from it. The JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) had conducted a study of the Mumbai-Ahmedabad route to test the feasibility of the high speed bullet train in the country.

It is heard that the Minister had discussed about the issues, which have been affecting the railways. There was also a talk about ways to improve and strengthen the cooperation in the railways with countries like Korea and Japan.

Railway Advisor, Girish Pillai has also accompanied the Minister on the tour. The Railway Minister will be returning to India by 13th September, and before that, he is expected to see new and advanced signal systems and experience high speed services in both Japan and South Korea.

If all goes well, soon India will also have its first high speed bullet train. With this, Indian Railways will also have new and improved signal systems as well as zero accidents.

IRFC to give Indian Railways LIC loan of Rs. 1,50,000 cr.

Indian Railway Finance Corporation is set to provide the rail sector a large amount of money, which is of Rs. 1,50,000 crore. This is a loan which will be provided to the rail sector.

This loan will be from Life Insurance Corporation and the instrument used will be a 30-year paper, which shows competitive rates for the Indian Railways.  The loan is going to be raised from LIC over 5 years. This money is going to be used to expand the railway systems. This money will also be beneficial for the delayed projects.

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Since the railways cannot directly borrow and take services of IRFC, many funds will be raised by IRCON and RITES from LIC. It is heard that the other rail PSUs will be raising around Rs.17,000 crore funds this year from LIC.

The IRFC has managed to rise over Rs 1.3 lakh crores from investment markets for the Indian Railways in the past 26 years. Raising funds from LIC for railways is a win-win situation as LIC too will benefit from the projects. As for the rail sector, long delayed projects will be completed quickly and other projects can start up as well.

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The railway has made a budget for the highest capital investment of Rs. 1 lakh crore for current fiscal. This also includes a support of Rs. 17,655 crore and Rs. 40,000 crore from the IRFC.

It is heard that the IRFC is more than happy to raise more and more funds for the Indian Railways. The IRFC will only earn marginal return of around 50 bps. There are interest and money risks, which are accepted by the Indian Railways. The loan is a 30-year lease, and within half of the time, the interest rate and principal have to almost be recovered by the financial organization.

We just hope that the money is utilised in modernizing and bringing new advancements to our rail sector.

Easy ways to make train reservations!

If you are confused on how to make train reservations then keep reading. We know that it might not be easy for some of you to decide on the trains, check the timings, and check the seats and so on. You can always book your tickets on the IRCTC website. But make sure you make the reservations in advance since most of the trains are usually booked for months.

If you have had troubles booking your train tickets, then here is a guide for help: –

  • You can check train seat availability on TravelKhana’s official website to know if the train you want to travel has any seats left. Once you find the name and number of the train you are going to travel from, select your berth. Other than checking the seats, you can use their train tracking system to check the status of the train at all times.
  • Make sure you enter the right details of the station you will start from to the station you will get off at.
  • If the trains do not have the class you want then be open to the others. Do not be picky because sometimes it can be tough to find seats on trains in your desired class.
  • Always book in advance. You always have the option of cancellation. So do not worry. Booking 3 to 4 months in advance is always better than booking at the last minute.
  • Make sure you note the number and name of the train you will be travelling from. Also if you want to check the time or want to track your train, then you can go to TravelKhana or download their mobile app for train tracker This will help in to manage your time since you can see when you train will arrive.
  • Other than booking the train, it is important to make sure you have booked for food too. You do not have to compromise for the unhygienic and tasteless food they provide on the train. Instead you can book amazing and different cuisines and snacks from travelkhana.com. They have a wide variety of cuisines and snacks you can pick from. So once you have confirmed your train tickets, you can go and book for some hygienic and tasty food too. If you miss out on booking in advance for the food, do not fret. You can always use the mobile app to book any food item you want while in the train too. TravelKhana has great and quick services. You will receive your food on time even if you book at the last moment too.
  • Other than reservations, make sure you pack your bags well and carry fewer loads on the trains. It is not easy to manage everything if you are travelling for the first time by trains. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, carry all your gadgets and keep them safe, keep your money safe and make sure you carry wet wipes and tissues with you.

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Train travelling is not easy until and unless you are on a luxury train. So always be prepared, reserve your tickets beforehand and do not forget to book good food via TravelKhana.

Train platform tickets and monthly season tickets to be paperless soon!

Yes, you read right! All the monthly tickets and the platforms tickets are soon going to be paperless since the Indian Railways is planning on launching a mobile app for the service. Cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Delhi will be able to take the perks of this service in the upcoming few days. The Railway Minister has confirmed the launch of this facility in the above mentioned cities in the upcoming few days.

He also has launched two distinguished IT based services at New Delhi Station, which are cash and smart machines and a special mobile application for monitoring any freight operation. The app is called Parichaalan. He stated that about 70 lakh passengers utilise the monthly tickets in the city Mumbai along out of the 2 crore passengers daily. He added that a high number of people use monthly tickets at many stations in cities like Kolkata, Delhi and Chennai.

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This initiative is a part of government’s Digital India plan, which will not only save paper but reduce the crowd and load at booking counters. This mobile app will help people in saving a lot of time while travelling. And since most people own smart phones today, it is going to make a lot of passengers happy.

The unreserved paperless ticket system in the Delhi-Palwalunit covers around 11 stations. This app is available currently for Android and Windows phone users. Sadly, people using iPhones might not be able to take the perks of this facility, but we hope that IOs too has this important mobile application. The app will not only give you the benefits of booking train tickets online but also provide important alerts for guiding every passenger during any booking process. There is a railway wallet through which you can make your payments. Once you book the ticket, you will receive a confirmation on the screen, which has all the information about your train ticket.

Before this, the mobile app was launched on trial basis in the month of April in the Egmore and Tambram sections of Chennai. Then the app was imitated in the Western Railways at stations, Churchgate and Dahanu.

The app is developed by CRIS (The Centre for Railway Information Systems) and is called UTSONMOBILE. Paperless unreserved ticket feature in this application focuses towards eliminating the need to waste paper and print tickets.

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