The Indian Railways have recorded a growth of over 6.58 per cent of passengers between April and November as compared to the previous years in the reserved, long-distance category.
While it kept losing its loyal passengers to other modes of transport for three running years right from 2013, it has displayed a new trend over the last eight months.
A 6.58 percent growth equals to over 21 million more passengers turning to the transport giant for long distance travel!
If the total number of passengers including long-distance reserved, unreserved and suburban local train networks is calculated, the Railways have recorded adding 50 million passengers this year and an additional income of Rs 1,579.22 crore, reported the Indian Express.
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The fact that more and more passengers are now turning to trains reflects in the 8.53 per cent growth in the number of passengers in its most expensive leisure travel tier, First AC.
While the Railways’ popular AC III tier recorded 9.68 per cent more passengers compared to the previous fiscal year, its AC-III tier has recorded the biggest jump of 17.37 per cent among reserved passengers, which is 1 per cent up last year’s record.
Also, the AC II tier, which was criticised to have prices that sometimes match or are higher than low-cost airlines, recorded 6.66 per cent growth in ridership. Passengers in the humble and pocket-friendly non-AC sleeper class also showed a 4.7 per cent increase.
Mohammad Jamshed, Railway Board Member (Traffic) in an interview with the Express said, “We have managed to add more passengers. We have not altered fares, neither have we run any major new products. So we attribute this growth to an increase in efficiency of service.”
We hope the rise in numbers makes the Indian Railways work more dedicatedly to serve its rising passengers and undertake additional measures to not only avoid mishaps, derailment and delays, but also maintain quality service, sanitation and upkeep of coaches.
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