(a) whether the fares of trains are higher as compared to air fare;
(b) if so, the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the number of train passengers has decreased due to higher train fare;
(d) if so, whether the Government proposes to connect the passengers with train services by providing more new railway lines so that more people use train as a measure of transportation and travelling; and
(e) if so, the action being taken in this regard?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
(SHRI RAJEN GOHAIN)
(a) & (b): Passenger fare of trains may or may not be higher than Air fares. Railways and Airlines are different modes of transport system and it is the choice of the passengers to opt either Railway or Airlines for travelling. Further, the fares on airlines between same origin-destination differ in different airlines as well as in different services during the day in the same airlines. The fares also vary during weekdays/weekends and peak/lean seasons based on demand pattern. Hence, fares of Indian Railways are not comparable with airlines.
(c): No, Madam. During 2016-17, the number of originating passengers travelled on Indian Railways was 8116 millions vis-à-vis 8107 millions in 2015-16, registering an increase of 0.11%.
(d) & (e): Providing more new lines is an ongoing continuous process over Indian Railways based on operational requirement, commercial viability, technical feasibility and resource availability.
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