Railways introduce a policy to lease, sell coaches to private parties to run theme-based tourist circuit trains

Indian Railways is planning to spread rail-based tourism among masses through leasing of coaching stock to interested parties to run them as theme-based cultural, religious and other tourist circuit trains.

According to the policy being prepared by the Indian Railways, Private parties will soon be able to contract and buy railway coaches to run theme-based cultural, religious, and other tourist circuit trains.

“An executive director-level committee has been constituted by the Ministry of Railways to formulate the policy and terms and conditions of the project,” the railways said in a release on Saturday.

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According to the release, “To tap the potential of the tourism sector and to leverage the core strengths of the professionals of the tourism sector in tourism activities like marketing, hospitality, integration of services, reach with the customer base, expertise in development/identification of tourist circuits, etc., Indian Railways is planning to spread rail-based tourism among masses through leasing of coaching stock to interested parties to run them as theme-based cultural, religious and other tourist circuit trains.”

As per the wanted order of concerned parties. Bare shells may also be let out, and Outright purchase of coaches can also be done. A train with a minimum of 16 coaches must be rented or bought by the concerned parties as per the plan made, according to the PTI report.

According to the release, this comes in the context when the railway’s attempt to draw in private players to run its “private trains” obtains very little interest from India Inc. The suggested model will allow private parties to act minor refurbishment of coaches and renting of coaches for a minimum period of 5 years, which will be extendable till coral life of coaches. the business model will be decided by the concerned parties. Purchase charges will also be imposed by the Indian Railways.