Mumbaikars might get privately-operated passenger trains on Delhi-Mumbai, Mumbai-Pune route

In an attempt to improve the travelling experience for consumers, Indian Railways is planning to rope in private operators. The rail corporation is mulling a plan to allow private operators to run trains on several important routes, according to new reports.

The decision comes under Railways' 100-day agenda to hand over operations of the trains to private players on key routes. Therefore, if all goes well for Railways, the passengers might be able to travel in swanky coaches run by private operators instead of the ones operated by the government.

The privately-operated passenger trains are said to have improved services and amenities. In its letter dated 23rd September, the Railway Board has given an indicative list to all the zones, enumerating 24 routes that can become potential routes for private services.

Here are the details about the proposed private trains on Indian Railways network:

• The list identified by the Railway Board for private train operation consists of intercity, long-distance and suburban routes.
• Rail Corporation has asked the zones to identify the routes by Friday when a meeting will be held on the issue.
• The Railway Board has said that private operators would be identified through a participative bid process.
• The proposed routes include Delhi-Mumbai, Delhi-Lucknow, Delhi-Jammu/Katra, Delhi-Howrah, Secunderabad-Hyderabad, Secunderabad-Delhi, Delhi-Chennai, Mumbai-Chennai, Howrah-Chennai and Howrah-Mumbai.

In the meantime, India's first private train, the Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express, will be operational from 5th October. This will be run by the railways' subsidiary, Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC).