Chennai: Private Trains to be Introduced in 10 Routes!

As part of its plan to introduce private trains in as many as 103 routes across India, Indian railways has reportedly proposed to launch private trains in 10 routes from Chennai.

The identified routes include Tambaram - Madurai, Tambaram - Trichy, Tambaram - Tirunelveli, Chennai - Bhagat Ki Kothi (Jodhpur), Chennai - Charlapalli (Hyderabad), Tambaram - Bengaluru, Chennai - Coimbatore, Tambaram - Kanniyakumari, Chennai - Okhla (Delhi) and Chennai - Howrah.

The routes would be finalized based on operational and commercial feasibility and the trains would be operated by both Indian and international companies.

According to railway officials, as many as 150 rakes would be needed to operate private trains across 103 routes. While day-time trains require single rake, long-distance trains (Chennai - Howrah and Chennai - Okhla) require 3 rakes each.

India's first private train, Tejas express, was flagged off in October 2019 on the Lucknow-Delhi route. The second private train approved for introduction between Mumbai and Ahmedabad will be flagged off on 17th January.