India’s focus on revamping its domestic railway network and also the introduction of new sleeper class trains is welcome news for most Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). Most Indians who live and work abroad mostly rely on trains when they are in India, to travel to their hometowns, or to travel within the country for sight-seeing. While travel by bus and private cars remains an option, most prefer the comfort of trains, especially when it’s an overnight journey.

India’s Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw recently unveiled India’s first Vande Bharat sleeper coach. These trains are likely to be inaugurated in December this year and promise a travel experience that places the comfort of the passenger at the top of the list. The Vande Bharat sleeper trains are also a major addition to the Indian Railways overall, allowing passengers to travel long distances on high-speed trains overnight.

“Train journey redefined with comfort, safety and innovation,” Vaishnaw said in a post on X.

In an effort to match other world-class train systems, especially Europe and Japan, the Vande Bharat Sleeper will come equipped with an advanced light system, USB charging ports and dedicated dog box to ensure that passengers enjoy a comfortable journey. The sleepertrains will also offer 51 ergonomically designed toilets, with options for Euro and Oriental styles. Additionally, first class passengers will also be able to enjoy shower facilities.

“Indian Railways aims to provide ultimate comfort to middle-class people when they take the train journey. The fare for these trains will also be affordable for everyone. Safety has been our top priority as it has multiple sensors. The Kavach system, which will alert the loco pilot about any danger, has been installed,” Vaishnaw had earlier said to a news agency. The minister had also asserted that these trains will match the best trains in the world.

Meanwhile, foreign tourists and NRIs wanting to travel by Indian Railways trains can do so by booking train tickets under the foreign tourist quota via the Indian Railways website, www.irctc.co.in. Additionally, foreign tourists and NRIs can book train tickets up to 365 days in advance under foreign tourist quota under the current advance reservation period (ARP).

While this is definitely good news for Indians and the Indian diaspora, one of the most challenging tasks that the behemoth Indian railways face is the frequency at which accidents occur and also general hygiene standards, both inside the trains and at the railway stations. For many Indians, the simple task of catching a train becomes burdensome because of the filth most encounter at the stations.

The railway ministry, it is learnt, will be investing heavily in the coming months to address these concerns. The plan is for a transformation which will involve revamping more than 550 railway stations across 27 states and 300 districts. Many of the designs of the new railway station will draw inspiration from India’s rich cultural heritage, it is reliably learnt.

So, as Indian Railways gear up to provide its passengers world-class facilities, it is important to note that hygiene, punctuality and safety will ultimately be the factors on which these endeavours will be judged by travellers in the country or those visiting from abroad. – Simran Sodhi is Executive Editor of nrifocus.com