Highlights of Railway Budget 2015-16

• No increase in passenger fares

• SMS alert to be introduced for train timings

• E-catering introduced in 108 trains, can order on IRCTC website

• To expand water vending machines on more stations

• On-board entertainment facility could be extended on Shatabdi trains

• Mobile charging stations will be introduced general class coaches

• More general class coaches will be added to select trains for benefit of the common man

• Railways plans to spend over Rs 8 lakh crore over five years

• Pension funds, multi-lateral banks have evinced interest in Railways

• Proposed the best operating ratio in nine years, of 88.5 per cent for 2015-16

• Railways to go through transformation in five years; to increase track capacity by 10 per cent to 1.38 lakh km

• To improve cleanliness & design of bed linen

• All India 24×7 grievances helpline 138 to start soon

• 7,000 more toilets to be replaced by Bio-Toilets, New toilets at 650 stations, more  vaccum toilets

• Passenger travelling unreserved  can procure a ticket within 5 minutes

• Railways will play a big role in socio-economic development of the country

• Railways carry a big burden of expectations

• Investments in railways will have multiplier effect

• Railways facilities have not improved significantly over last few years

• The cycle of under-investment should end

• Railways has to regain in share in freight traffic

• Railways aims to deliver a sustainable improvement in customer experience and make rail a safer means of travel

• Objective is to make Railways self-sustainable