Passenger Operations

Passenger Operations – Railway GK Capsule

“Moving India – 2.3 crore passengers daily, 13 lakh tonnes freight daily.” – Indian Railways Vision 2030

1. Technical Dimensions & Specifications

2. Coach & Train Coding System (Indian Railways)

3. Reservation & Ticketing Facts

• PRS (Passenger Reservation System): launched 1986 at Delhi, nationwide since 1995.
• UTS (Unreserved Ticketing System): rolled out 2002; now 100% computerised.
• UTSonMobile: 2014; QR & GPS based; 2.5 cr tickets/month (2023).
• Vikalp (Alternate Train Accommodation): 2016; 1.2 cr passengers benefitted FY 23.
• HO quota: 1% per class (min 2 berths) – Head-quarters quota.
• DF quota: 4 berths per coach for defence personnel.
• Tatkal: 30% of accommodation; opens 10 AM (AC), 11 AM (Non-AC) previous day.
• Premium Tatkal: dynamic pricing; 30% of Tatkal quota.
• Child fare: <5 yrs free (no seat); 5-12 yrs full berth @ 50% fare.
• Concessions: 53 categories; largest 40% for senior citizens (M 60+, F 58+).
• MST (Monthly Season Ticket): cost = 15 single journeys; QST = 45 journeys.
• UTS journey limit: 200 km suburban, 300 km non-suburban.

4. Classes of Travel – Fare Hierarchy (High → Low)

1. Anubhuti (EA) – dynamic
2. AC 1-tier (1A)
3. Executive Vistadome (EV)
4. AC 2-tier (2A)
5. AC 3-tier (3A)
6. AC 3-tier Economy (3E)
7. AC Chair Car (CC)
8. Sleeper (SL)
9. Second Sitting (2S)
10. Unreserved (UR/GS)

5. Suburban Systems at a Glance

• EMUs: 25 kV AC, 4/6/9/12/15-car; max 120 km/h.
• MEMUs: 160 km/h design; ICF & LHB design; 20% more energy efficient.

6. Historical Milestones

7. Current Initiatives (2023-24)

• Amrit Bharat Station Scheme: 1,275 stations to be re-developed (G+2 model, airport-like).
• Vande Bharat Sleeper: 160 km/h aluminium-body; 2024 launch.
• Vande Bharat (Chair): 102 rakes; 200 more by 2026.
• Vistadome coaches: 191 on 50 routes; 250 more sanctioned.
• Bharat Gaurav trains: theme-based, private operators.
• Rail Madad: 139-based grievance redressal, avg closure 4 hrs.
• SMS ‘139’: 9 languages, 24×7.
• UTS-Wallet: R-Wallet; one-time 3% bonus on recharge ≥₹500.
• QR-code paperless: 1,200 stations.
• Faceless ticket checking: handheld terminal (HTT) with POS, 100% cashless fine.
• Railway Sainik Board: 100% concession for war-widows.
• Green toilets: 1.20 lakh bio-toilets; 100% discharge-free by 2025.
• Divyangjan facilities: 6,590 coaches with 1% reserved slots; 711 stations with lifts/escalators.

8. Weight & Dimension Limits (LHB vs ICF)

9. Train Numbering Logic (5-digit)

• 1st digit: Type/Zone (0–9) 0–1: regular Mail/Exp; 2: superfast; 3: Kolkata; 4: Metro; 5: Passenger; 6: suburban MEMU; 7: Hyderabad; 8–9: reserved.
• 2nd digit: Home zone code (NR-1, WR-2, CR-3…)
• Last 3 digits: Unique ID; odd ↓, even ↑ (generally).

10. Premium Train Brands

11. Safety & Security Provisions

• RPF strength: 75,000 (2023); 4,500 Mahila battalions.
• GRP: State-funded; 2,700 posts on cost-sharing.
• CCTV: 1,200 stations, 4,000 trains under Nirbhaya fund.
• MERAS (Mobile-enabled Rail Security): 2021.
• ICMS (Integrated Coaching Management System): live coach tracking.
• Fire & smoke alarm: required in AC coaches since 2018.
• Brake van: 1 per 10 coaches (min 1); equipped with 2 hand brakes, 2 wheel coaches, 2 draw bars.

12. 15+ MCQs for Quick Drill

Question:01 Which of the following is Indian Railways’ longest-running train in terms of total distance covered?

A) Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express

B) Himsagar Express

C) Navyug Express

D) Vivek Express (Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari)

Question:02 Tatkal booking for AC class opens at what time?

A) 8 AM (two days prior to departure)

B) 9 AM (one day prior to departure)

C) 10 AM (one day prior to departure)

D) 11 AM (on the day of departure)

Question:03 [The first electric train in India ran between which stations?]

A) Bombay VT and Byculla

B) Howrah and Hooghly

C) Madras Central and Royapuram

D) Delhi and Ghaziabad

Question:04 What is the maximum permissible speed of LHB coaches?

A) 130 km/h

B) 140 km/h

C) 150 km/h

D) 160 km/h

Question:05 Which of the following is NOT a class code for AC 3-tier Economy?

A) 3E

B) 2A

C) M/E

D) 3A

Question:06 The UTS mobile app journey limit for non-suburban area is

A) 100 km

B) 200 km

C) 300 km

D) 400 km

Question:07 The first Rajdhani Express was flagged off in

A) 1967

B) 1969

C) 1971

D) 1973

Question:08 How many berths are kept under Defence quota per coach?

A) 2

B) 3

C) 4

D) 6

Question:09 Which Indian city records the highest suburban passenger density on its railway network?

A) Delhi
B) Kolkata
C) Mumbai
D) Chennai

Question:10 The average speed of Mail/Express trains during 2022-23 was

A) 52.4 km/h

B) 55.7 km/h

C) 58.9 km/h

D) 61.2 km/h

Question:11 The coach code “EOG” stands for

A) Electric Overhead Gear car
B) End-on-Generator car
C) Emergency Oil Generator car
D) Engine-cum-Office Generator car

Question:12 Which of the following was the first private train operated by IRCTC?

A) Mumbai–Ahmedabad Tejas Express (2020)

B) Lucknow–New Delhi Tejas Express (2019)

C) Chennai–Madurai Tejas Express (2021)

D) Howrah–Puri Tejas Express (2022)

Question:13 Senior citizen concession for males on Indian Railways is available from what age?

A) 55 years

B) 58 years

C) 60 years

D) 62 years

Question:14 The numbering of Duronto trains generally starts with which digit?

A) 1

B) 2

C) 3

D) 4

Question:15 Which of the following is the highest railway station in India?

A) Shimla (2,176 m)

B) Ghum (2,258 m)

C) Udhampur (2,100 m)

D) Darjeeling (2,042 m)

Question:16 The concept of “Vikalp” is related to

A) Dynamic surge pricing in premium trains

B) Alternate train accommodation against wait-listed passengers

C) Refund of Tatkal charges on cancellation

D) Upgradation of sleeper passengers to AC class

Question:17 The fire-retardant furnishing material used in modern coaches is called

A) Rexene & HOFR (Heat & Oil resistant Fire Retardant)

B) PVC & FR Cotton

C) Nylon & Kevlar

D) Polyester & Nomex

Revise → Recall → Rehearse