Rail Budget 2023 Set To Bet Big On Rolling Stock, May Unveil Rs 2.70 Lakh Crore Plan For 500 Vande Bharat, 35 Hydrogen Trains, 5000 LHB Coaches, 58000 Wagons

Five hundred Vande Bharat trains, 35 hydrogen fuel-based trains, 4,000 newly designed automobile carrier coaches with side entry, 5,000 LHB coaches and 58,000 wagons are some of the proposals being finalised in the Rolling Stock Programme (RSP) at an estimated cost of Rs 2.70 lakh crore, the highest so far, for the upcoming budget.

Apart from this, 100 Vistadome coaches and refurbishment of 1,000 coaches of premier trains is being anticipated as part of the RSP 2023-24.  

Air disinfection system in 1,000 AC coaches for combating air pollution, Covid like viruses, which would cost the Railways Rs 3.3 lakh per coach, has also been provisioned.

Indian Railways has now started its passenger operation over its network after several lockdown periods. However, with the spread of different mutations of coronavirus, there arises a need for a mechanism to treat circulating air, within coaches, to remove the virus and other particulate matters for the facilitation of clean air, to passengers on board.

An enabling provision for the work of manufacturing of 500 Vande Bharat trains for which 8,000 coaches are to be made at an estimated cost of Rs 130 crore per rake, aggregating to Rs 65,000 crore in RSP 2023-24, has also been proposed.

In order to strengthen the safety of passengers, there is a provision of water mist based fire extinguishers in 1,000 coaches at the cost of Rs 18,000 per coach.

In many fire cases, provision of water mist based fire extinguishers has been recommended. Research Design and Standards Organisation (RDSO) had also submitted recommendations to the Railway Board to adopt pressure type water mist based portable fire extinguishers for coaches.

It has also recommended that Pantry cars and Power cars have the highest vulnerability to fire incidences and these coaches are also manned by the Railway staff. Therefore, the existing fire extinguishers in these coaches may be replaced with stored pressure type water mist based portable fire extinguishers.

The RSP has a provision of Axle Box bearing condition monitoring system for 1000 coaches at an estimated cost of Rs 10 lakh per coach.

Real time monitoring of critical maintenance parameters has been under consideration to improve safety and reduce maintenance time.

Axle Box bearing condition monitoring system is expected to capture and analyse data when rolling stock is loaded and running with maximum speed. In this way, it would help to know the exact health of the rolling stock better than when it is stationary or not loaded. Monitoring would also reduce expenses for maintenance and improve the operating ratio.

The Budget has a proposal for refurbishment / upgradation of 1000 coaches of premium trains at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh per coach.

Various premium trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Humsafar, Tejas, Suvidha and so on, have been introduced by Indian Railways over the years.

In view of increased passenger expectations, it is envisaged that coaches of these premium trains be upgraded with latest passenger comfort items introduced recently, as well as other superior interiors. With the aim of attracting tourists, the Railways is proposing to manufacture 100 more Vistadome coaches at an estimated cost of Rs 4.3 crore per coach.

Vistadome coaches provide panoramic views, through wider body side windows as well as through transparent sections in the roof, thus enabling the passengers to enjoy the scenic beauty of the places through which they travel.

The Budget will have a provision of conversion of 1,000 Integral Coach factory (ICF) coaches into new modified automobile carrying coaches at an estimated cost of Rs 25 lakh per coach.

There has been an increase in demand for automobile carrying vehicles over Indian Railways. Accordingly, to capture automobile movement, there has been increased emphasis on manufacturing newly designed high speed carriers from conversion of existing ICF coaches, which are being phased out from train operation gradually.