Vande Bharat sleeper, Chenab bridge, faster refunds, super app, bullet train - get ready for Indian Railways 100-day agenda: Top 8 points you shouldn't miss!

Indian Railways draws up a big 100-day plan! Vande Bharat sleeper trains, a faster train ticket refund process, finally connecting Jammu and Kashmir with rest of India by railways (including world’s highest railway bridge over Chenab), expediting India’s first bullet train project, a super app and more - that’s on the top agenda list for the national transporter once the new government comes to power in June. There’s also India’s first vertical lift railway bridge! So, what can Indian Railways passengers look forward to? We take a look:

Vande Bharat Sleeper: Being touted as a game-changing project by Indian Railways for long-distance overnight travel, the Vande Bharat sleeper variant train is currently being manufactured by BEML in collaboration with ICF. The Vande Bharat sleeper train will be a 160 kmph capable semi-high speed train, superior to Rajdhani Express trains in terms of passenger comfort, faster acceleration and deceleration and jerk-free rides.

Vande Bharat sleeper prototype will consist of a 16-coach train set comprising 11 AC 3-tier coaches, 4 AC 2-tier coaches, and one AC 1st class coach. With a total berth capacity of 823 passengers, it will accommodate 611 in AC 3-tier, 188 in AC 2-tier, and 24 in AC 1st class. The train will undergo testing at speeds of up to 180 km/h. Anticipated to serve popular overnight routes of the national transporter, the new Vande Bharat sleeper train is poised to significantly reduce travel time. (Concept image)

Indian Railways’ USBRL project - connecting Jammu and Kashmir with the rest of India by train! The final stretch of the Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramula Rail Link project is expected to become operational this year. Once it is ready, J&K will finally be connected with the rest of the country by train services. This segment of the USBRL project boasts notable landmarks, including the Chenab bridge, recognized as the world’s highest railway bridge (towering even taller than the Eiffel Tower!), and the Anji Khad bridge, which is Indian Railways’ first cable-stayed bridge.

Chenab bridge taller than Eiffel Tower! The Chenab River Bridge, an engineering marvel, towers over the river bed at an astonishing height of 359 meters. To put this into perspective, it surpasses the iconic Eiffel Tower in Paris by a remarkable 35 meters. Nestled within the challenging terrain of the Himalayas, the bridge's construction is an engineering feat.

Indian Railways faster refund service on the cards! Indian Railways is planning to streamline its ticket refund process, shifting from the current three-day duration to a more efficient 24-hour scheme. This initiative aims to enhance passenger convenience by enabling processing of refunds for train ticket cancellations within a day.

Indian Railways Super App: There are discussions about the potential launch of a comprehensive "super-app" designed for train passengers. This app would offer features such as real-time train status tracking, ticket booking, and a range of other railway-related services, all conveniently accessible from one platform.

India’s first bullet train project: Accelerating the bullet train project is a priority, with a focus on operationalizing approximately 320 kilometers of the 508-kilometer Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train corridor. Within the 100-day agenda, efforts will be concentrated on finalizing the rolling stock procurement process for the bullet train project. (Image of Shinkansen E5 series bullet train)

New Pamban bridge: The Pamban railway bridge, India's first vertical-lift railway bridge, is set to become operational, linking the mainland with Rameswaram. Following safety concerns about the existing 1913 rail bridge, train services between Mandapam and Rameswaram were temporarily suspended in December 2022. The new bridge, being built by RVNL, will be an engineering marvel, allowing movement of boats and ferries under it, with the help of a vertical lift span that will rise up to create room for shipping traffic.

The new Pamban bridge, spanning just over 2 kilometers, has been engineered to accommodate a double railway line and future electrification, aligning with Indian Railways' goal of fully electrifying its broad gauge network. The bridge will consist of 99 spans, each featuring 18.3-meter-long girders, with a navigational span of 63 meters. The standout feature of the new Pamban bridge is its vertical lift facility, designed to facilitate the smooth passage of boats underneath the structure. This vertical lift span will be controlled by an electromechanical system that is interlocked with the train control system, ensuring seamless operation and safety.

Insurance for Indian Railways passengers: Within the initial 100 days, Indian Railways aims to roll out the PM Rail Yatri Bima Yojna insurance scheme, catering to the security of passengers during their rail journeys.

New economic corridors on Indian Railways: The government may pursue cabinet approval for the development of three extensive economic corridors spanning a total distance of 40,900 kilometres. This ambitious project requires an investment of Rs 11 lakh crore.