Indian Railways has stepped up efforts to strengthen affordable and safe travel for common passengers, with record production of modern General and non-AC coaches, expansion of special train services, improved station facilities and enhanced ticketing safeguards.
According to an official statement, Indian Railways has achieved record production of General and non-AC coaches equipped with improved passenger-friendly facilities to meet rising demand while keeping fares affordable. These coaches are designed to enhance comfort and safety, while significantly increasing passenger carrying capacity.
For the ongoing financial year 2025–26, Indian Railways has planned the production of 4,838 new LHB General and non-AC coaches. For 2026–27, the production target has been set at 4,802 coaches. The expansion is aimed at modernising the passenger fleet and improving service quality across the network.
To manage festive and seasonal travel rush, Indian Railways operated more than 43,000 special train trips during 2025. These included services for Maha Kumbh, Holi, Chhath Puja and the summer travel season. The special operations helped ease congestion and ensured smoother passenger movement during peak demand periods.
Passenger facilities at stations are also being upgraded. The Railways has identified 76 major stations for the development of dedicated passenger holding areas. Following the model of the Yatri Suvidha Kendra at New Delhi Railway Station, these holding areas will be equipped with seating, toilets, ticketing facilities, automatic ticket vending machines and drinking water. Most of the projects are targeted for completion ahead of the 2026 festival season.
To ensure fair ticketing and curb misuse of the reservation system, Indian Railways has strengthened Aadhaar-based verification and technology-driven monitoring. Only Aadhaar-verified users are now allowed to book Tatkal tickets. As part of this drive, over 5.73 crore suspicious and inactive IRCTC user accounts have been deactivated or temporarily suspended.
Passenger safety remains a priority, with 84 per cent of the safety-related budget for 2025–26 already utilised. Consequential train accidents have declined sharply over the past decade, while the safety budget has nearly tripled to ₹1.16 lakh crore in the current financial year. The number of fog safety devices has also increased significantly to improve train operations during winter.
Affordable long-distance travel has further been strengthened with the introduction of non-AC Amrit Bharat Express trains. During 2025, 13 new services were introduced, taking the total number of operational Amrit Bharat trains to 30. These trains operate with Sleeper and General Class coaches and are aimed at providing quality travel at economical fares.
In addition, two Namo Bharat Rapid Rail services are operational on the Bhuj–Ahmedabad and Jaynagar–Patna routes, improving regional connectivity.
Indian Railways said the combined focus on increasing non-AC capacity, improving station infrastructure, enhancing safety and strengthening ticketing systems reflects its commitment to building a modern, inclusive and passenger-centric rail network for everyday travellers.
