Let private players run passenger trains: Economic Survey

September 10th, 2009 Ohio company eyes stimulus money for train factoryCOLUMBUS, Ohio — State transportation officials agreed Thursday to support a private company's bid to make passenger trains that would run on President Barack Obama's proposed high-speed rail network. U.S. Railcar LLC, which in June bought the assets of a shuttered Colorado railcar company, intends to build a $14 million factory in suburban Columbus that would make diesel-fueled passenger cars and employ about 160 people.

July 27th, 2009 Canada's rail service to resume serviceMONTREAL — Canada's national passenger rail service resumed after the company and the union representing engineers reached an agreement to end a strike that paralyzed passenger trains across the country. Via Rail and the union said Sunday they had agreed to go to binding arbitration to get a deal.

July 21st, 2009 Companies that make passenger trains in USA sampling of major international companies that are positioned to make new passenger trains in the U.S. —Bombardier Inc., based in Montreal, operates an assembly plant in Plattsburgh, N.Y.

July 14th, 2009 NEW DELHI - India is expected to issue by the end of this year a notification to increase foreign equity in defence production to 49 percent from the current 26 percent, a senior official said. This follows the Economic Survey for 2008-09 tabled in parliament July 2 that said that 100 percent foreign direct investment (FDI) should be permitted for high-technology defence equipment.

July 3rd, 2009 CHENNAI - Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee's budget proposals presented in the Lok Sabha Friday did not include private sector participation in running of passenger trains on tourist routes, as suggested by the Economic Survey 2008-09. "Private entry into provision of passenger trains must be allowed to and from all the tourist destinations," the survey tabled in parliament a day earlier had said.

July 3rd, 2009 NEW DELHI - It has been dubbed a populist budget by critics but the rail budget presented Friday by Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee has enough goodies targeted at the ordinary rail traveller: - No increase in fares - New 'izzat' scheme for poor to travel up to 100 km for Rs.25 - Low-cost, air-conditioned 'yuva trains' for youth at Rs.299-Rs.399 - New scheme for good quality food at affordable prices - Special Trains to ferry perishable farm produce, rural craft - Promise of clean toilets, potable water at stations, trains - Tatkal scheme made more passenger-friendly, service charge cut to Rs.100 - New scheme for poor passengers to travel with 'dignity' - A doctor at your service in every long-distance train - 50 stations to be upgraded into world class facilities - 12 new non-stop trains between key stations

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - Just a day before the government tables the railway budget, the Economic Survey for 2008-09 has suggested that the government should allow private players in passenger train operations to tourist spots. "Private entry into provision of passenger trains must be allowed to and from all the tourist destinations," said the survey.

July 2nd, 2009 CHENNAI - Life insurance penetration in India dipped in 2007, first time since the sector was opened up for private players a decade ago, said the country's Economic Survey for 2008-09 released here Thursday. "The life insurance penetration in India increased from 1.77 percent in 2000 to 4.1 percent in 2006, before declining to 4 percent in 2007," the survey tabled in parliament by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said.

July 2nd, 2009 NEW DELHI - India's Economic Survey for 2008-09 released here Thursday has called for allowing private players - both domestic and foreign - to invest in the country's nuclear power sector. The survey, tabled in parliament by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, however, said the foreign direct investment (FDI) cap should be fixed at 49 percent.

April 26th, 2009 NEW DELHI - With the metro increasingly becoming the choice of city's commuters, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has ordered extra coaches to be attached to some existing trains to increase the passenger capacity, an official said Sunday. Eight more coaches have been ordered by the DMRC to be added to four trains.

February 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Following are the highlights of the interim rail budget for next fiscal presented by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in Lok Sabha Friday: * Two percent reduction in fares for virtually all classes * Feasibility studies progressing well to start 'bullet trains' in India * Railways will create record surplus of Rs.900 billion (Rs.90,000 crore) this fiscal * In past five years, no burden imposed on train passengers * Railways saw 14 percent rise in passenger income * Railways managed 8 percent growth in freight loading in five years * But freight down in current year due to economic downturn * Drop in train accidents, railway safety enhanced * Rs.700 billion (Rs.70,000 crore) surplus ploughed back to improve efficiency * Rs.367.73 billion (Rs.36,773 crore) spent this fiscal toward productivity, passenger facilities * Railways to introduce wagons with higher capacity * Railways to spend Rs.230 billion (Rs.23,000 crore) in 2009-10 * Work has started on Delhi-Mumbai dedicated freight corridor * Dedicated freight corridor from Ludhiana to Kolkata to be inaugurated later this month * Kolkata Metro will be expanded * Frequencies of a host of trains enhanced * Frequencies of several trains across the country increased to daily service * Steps to have railway connectivity to Kashmir initiated * Railways have set up four call centres

February 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Following are the reduction in fares announced in the interim railway budget presented Friday: * Rs.1 reduction in passenger fares on tickets costing up to Rs.50 for non suburban mail, express and ordinary passenger trains for journey above 10 km; This reduction will not be applicable for second class rail journey up to 10 km * Fares of second class and sleeper class fares of all trains reduced * Fares of AC first class, AC 2-tier, AC 3-tier and AC chair car also reduced by 2 percent

February 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Following are the highlights of the interim rail budget for next fiscal presented by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad in Lok Sabha Friday: * Two percent reduction in fares for virtually all classes * Feasibility studies progressing well to start 'bullet trains' in India * Plan outlay for 2009-10 kept at Rs.379.05 billion (Rs.37,905 crore) * Railways will create record surplus of Rs.900 billion (Rs.90,000 crore) this fiscal * Rs.700 billion (Rs.70,000 crore) surplus ploughed back to improve efficiency * In past five years, no burden imposed on train passengers * Railways saw 14 percent rise in passenger income * Railways managed 8 percent growth in freight loading in five years * But freight down in current year due to economic downturn * Revised freight earnings for this fiscal to Rs.542.93 billion (Rs.54,293 crore) * Freight loading target retained at 850 million tonnes * Estimated freight earnings for next fiscal pegged at Rs.590.59 billion (Rs.59,059 crore) * Drop in train accidents, railway safety enhanced * Rs.367.73 billion (Rs.36,773 crore) spent this fiscal toward productivity, passenger facilities * Railways to introduce wagons with higher capacity * Railways to spend Rs.230 billion (Rs.23,000 crore) in 2009-10 * Work has started on Delhi-Mumbai dedicated freight corridor * Dedicated freight corridor from Ludhiana to Kolkata to be inaugurated later this month * Kolkata Metro will be expanded * 43 new train services to be started in 2009-10 * Frequencies of 14 trains enhanced * Frequencies of several trains across the country increased to daily service * Extension of 14 trains envisaged * Passenger volume likely to grow by around 7 percent over previous year * Steps to have railway connectivity to Kashmir initiated * Railways have set up four call centres

February 12th, 2009 NEW DELHI - Living up to his promise of easing the burden of average train passengers, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Friday cut fares by two percent, introduced 43 new trains and said feasibility studies on starting 'bullet trains' in the country were progressing well. Presenting the interim rail budget for 2009-10 in parliament, Lalu Prasad also announced the extension of 14 trains, an increase in the frequency of 14 others, apart earmarking a higher plan outlay of Rs.379.05 billion (Rs.37,905 crore/$7.75 billion) towards expansion next fiscal.

February 6th, 2009 KOLKATA - This metropolis needs at least three more terminals to split the growing rail traffic load, chairman of parliamentary standing committee on railways Basudeb Acharia said Saturday. 'Passenger rate in Eastern and South-Eastern railway is growing by 4.5 percent per year.