Delhi-Lucknow Tejas Express set to be first train to be run by private operators

Delhi-Luckw Tejas Express is set to be first train to be operated by private players, sources said Monday, indicating that Railways is going ahe with its 100-day nda of handing over operations of two of its trains to private sector, despite protests from its unions.

Railway Board is deliberating on a second such route, which too would be within 500-km distance range. Delhi-Luckw Tejas Express was anunced in 2016 but was introduced in new time table released recently.

train, one of most-awaited trains on route, is currently parked at Anand Nagar railway station in Uttar Presh and will be handed over to private players after an open bidding process for operationalisation.

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However, custody of trains will be transferred to Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), which will pay for it, including ir lease charges, to financing arm, IRFC.

"se two trains will be given on an experimental basis and we hope that within next 100 days, we will be able to run at least one of m. idea was to identify routes which have low congestion and connect important tourists spots. second tain too will be identified soon," a senior official said.

Delhi-Luckw route is currently served by 53 trains but does t have a Rajdhani. Swarn Shatabdi has highest demand on this route and takes around 6:30 hours.

IRCTC, which will be given two trains to run initially, has been asked to finalise a proposal by July 10 and submit it to Railway Board after a meeting of Member, Traffic, with officials of Railways' tourism and catering arm on July 4.

proposal of Railway Board in its 100-day plan was to offer two trains to operators who would be willing to be part of bidding process for rights to run private passenger day/overnight train sets connecting important cities. Railways also said that it would float a Request for Proposal (RFP) and a Request for Quote (RFQ) in next 100 days. 

proposal, however, has come under severe criticism from railway unions, who have threatened large scale protests over issue.

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