Railways To Add 2,000 Trains, End Waiting Lists

27 Jun 2025 CW Team

Indian Railways will introduce about 2,000 extra trains a day over the next four years, lifting the daily total to nearly 13,000 services and aiming to provide every traveller with a confirmed berth. According to a senior Railway Ministry official, the enlarged timetable should raise annual passenger capacity from roughly 8 billion to 10 billion and wipe out the 50 million-strong waiting-list that recurs each year.

The plan calls for 450 Vande Bharat sets, 200 push-pull formations and a mix of new Mail and Express services. Capacity freed by the Dedicated Freight Corridor, plus continuous track-doubling and electrification, will allow the extra trains to run without clogging the network. Work is also under way on 1,000 rail overbridges and underpasses this financial year to cut level-crossing delays.

To reinforce booking transparency, Railways has capped wait-listed tickets at 25 per cent of a coach’s confirmed seats across all classes—Sleeper, AC First, AC Second, AC Third, Chair Car and Executive Chair Car. In past peak seasons a Sleeper coach could carry more than 300 hopefuls and AC carriages up to 150; the new ceiling keeps the list manageable and gives passengers a clearer idea of their odds of travel.

Rail-administrators say the twin approach of expanding rolling stock and tightening booking rules will remove uncertainty for passengers while boosting revenue and operational reliability. With construction works and tendering already in hand, the first tranche of new trains is expected to enter service early in the current plan period, marking a pivotal step towards a wait-list-free railway.

Infrastructure Urban

09 Mar 2026

Hong Kong Mission Explores UAE and Egypt Textile Opportunities

Hong Kong is strengthening its role as a global sourcing and supply chain hub for the garment and textile sector, offering international businesses access to advanced logistics, sourcing networks and design expertise. With nearly a century of industry experience, Hong Kong companies are recognised for their Original Design Manufacturing (ODM) and Original Equipment Manufacturing (OEM) capabilities, supporting major global brands with high-quality garments and efficient supply chain solutions.In recent decades, the city’s garment industry has evolved beyond manufacturing to focus on higher va..

Flender Inaugurates Wind Gearbox Test Rig In Chennai

Chennai, 6 March 2026: Flender has inaugurated a 13.5 MW wind turbine gearbox test rig at its Walajabad facility near Chennai, marking the installation of the largest test rig of its kind in India. The facility was inaugurated on 5 March in the presence of Andreas Evertz, CEO, Flender Group; Lars Wiegemann, Vice President – Wind Gears; and Vinod Shetty, CEO, Flender India.The test rig has been developed to support testing and validation of wind turbine gearboxes, strengthening the company’s capabilities in the renewable energy sector. The commissioning was completed within three months thr..

BMW Industries partners with IOCL for PNG supply at Bokaro plant

BMW Industries has entered into a strategic partnership with Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) for the supply of Piped Natural Gas (PNG), reinforcing its commitment to adopting cleaner and more efficient energy sources for its operations.The agreement was signed at the Eastern Region Pipelines (ERPL) headquarters in Kolkata. The partnership is expected to support the company’s upcoming manufacturing facility in Bokaro by facilitating the use of natural gas as a primary energy source.According to the company, the adoption of PNG will help enhance operational efficiency while also contributing to ..