Now TV, music,5-star hotel food in some trains

Faced with stiff competition from airlines, the railways is introducing in-flight entertainment and food from five-star hotels with options for dishes in selected trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express.

Channel music, TV screens screening of latest films, food from five-star hotels, providing options in menu, increased speed, are some of the offers being finalised to be introduced in these trains.

The facilities offered by low-cost air carriers have made an impact on the 1st class AC and 2nd class AC passengers of the railways as fares of these classes are at par with the fares charged by low-cost airlines. Though it has not affected the railways in non-metro routes, there is a dent on Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Kolkata routes.

Ramesh Chandra, the officiating chairman of the Railway Board, said the railways is improving its onboard services in some selected routes.

"This is a continuous exercise as part of our upgradation drive. It is true that many low-cost carriers are offering fares which are almost at par with our upper class fares. Though we have wider network than anybody and the number of our clientele is much more than anybody, we are not complacent about it," he said.

The railways earns about 20 per cent of its total passenger revenue from the upper class segment -- 1st class AC, 2nd class AC and Chair Car.

According to a senior IRCTC (Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation) official, the caterers for some selected trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi are going to be replaced with the five-star caterers which regularly supply food to airlines.

Three leading caterers have been shortlisted for the job. Passengers will also be provided option to select the menu, he said.

There are complaints about the quality of food served in trains. So it has been decided to do away with our present caterers and provide the same quality of food served in flights, the official said.

Besides roping in five-star caterers, a leading five-star hotel is likely to take over the management of the Railway Yatri Niwas in the  national capital soon.

"This has been done to improve the quality of the service in Yatri Niwas," said the official.

"The basic aim is to provide value-added service to our passengers. Besides enhancing onboard services, we are also going to offer services like car rentals and hotel accomodation through call centres."

The passengers will also get alert messages of arrival and departure schedule on mobiles once the service is operational, said the official.

The IRCTC official said the railways is also upgrading e-ticketing system where one can get wait-listed ticket also. So far, only confirmed tickets are available through e-ticketing.

Certain routes have been identified where the speed of some trains would be increased.

"Track upgradation exercise is being carried on in some selected routes to increase the speed of some long-distance trains in Delhi-Kolkata, Delhi-Chennai and Delhi-Mumbai routes. We are also decreasing the number of stoppages by eliminating some unwanted halts along the routes," said the official.