Indian Railways plans a dedicated train service for domestic and international tourists, catering to customers at different income levels.
This is a part draft tourism policy which IR is bringing out for the first time in a bid to increase private partnership in running tourist trains.
A concept of tourist train with differential tariff will be worked out. The train will comprise different classes of accommodation like Sleeper 3A, 2A and 1A coaches, as per demand.
The IR will operate the train on different circuits with normal tariff or with a mark up. Service providers like Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will manage other services such as hotel accommodation and sightseeing for domestic and international tourists.
The Railways also proposes to reserve special coaches for tourists on trains running through tourist spots across the country.
It will auction such dedicated tourist coaches to tour operators at a premium based on which the tour operator may carry the passengers/tourists to be booked by it.
An effort will be made to involve private participation in operating more (hill tourist) trains and also to improve the financial conditions in hill railways in general through Public Private Partnership.
There will be ‘Bharat Darshan Trains’ catering “for the masses” with sleeper class coaches.
For promoting religious tourism, the IR proposed introducing Astha Circuit Trains and State Tirth Trains.
While the former will be operated by the IR at its own expense, the latter will be run on request from state governments at their cost.
Indian Railways: Know More- Headquarters: New Delhi
- Number of employees: 1,331,000
- Founded: 16 April 1853
- Revenue: 1.683 trillion INR (US$25 billion, 2015–2016)
- Divisions: 17 Railways Zones
