First set of private passenger trains from 2023

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New Delhi, July 19

The first set of 12 private trains will be introduced in 2023, followed by 45 more in the next fiscal, according to an initial timeline drawn by the Railways that plans to roll out all 151 such train services by 2027, officials say.

In a formal kick-start to its plans to allow private entities to operate passenger trains on its network, the Railways earlier this month invited proposals from companies to run 151 modern passenger trains on 109 pairs of routes across the country. The project will entail a private sector investment of about Rs 30,000 crore.

As part of the plan for private trains, the Railways has planned to introduce 12 trains in 2022-23, 45 in 2023-2024, 50 in 2025-26 and 44 more in the next fiscal, taking the total number of trains to 151 by the end of financial year 2026-2027.

The request for qualification (RFQ), which was floated on July 8, is likely to be finalised by November, the financial bids will be opened by March 2021 and selection of bidders will be done by April 31, 2021, according to a timeline for the introduction of private passenger trains prepared by the Railways.

Bidders quoting the highest share in gross revenue would be awarded the project, officials said.

"We have worked out a plan by which we hope to begin private train operations. Tenders will be finalised by March 2021 and trains will operate from March, 2023," a senior official said.

The Railways has said 70 per cent of the private trains will be manufactured in India which will be designed for a maximum speed of 160 kmph. There would be a reduction in journey time by around 10-15 per cent at 130 kmph and around 30 per cent at 160 kmph. The running time taken by a train shall be comparable to or faster than the fastest train of the Railways operating in the respective route. — PTI

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