Introduction
When it comes to travel, the very first thought that pops up in our minds are about trains. Railways are a major source of travel for each one of us. It is not only convenient but also reasonable to opt for trains as the mode of travel.
Indian Railways has a significant share in the economy of the country.
Railways also facilitate business, sightseeing, pilgrimage along with transportation of goods.
It has been a mode of transport for a very long time. What is the role played by Indian Railways currently? How has the Railways sector emerged in past years?
Indian Railway in the Indian Economy
The Indian Railways is one of the major as well as essential sectors of the Indian economy. It is the biggest sector operated by the Government of India.
Freight revenues for Indian Railways were $16 billion in 2021. By creating infrastructure to accommodate 45 per cent of the economy's modal freight share, India's railway sector aims to contribute around 1.5 per cent to the country's GDP.
Indian Railway is a big contributor to the GDP of the country.
Not only in terms of GDP, but Indian Railways also contributes to the GDP in other ways as well.
Railways promote economic growth while cutting greenhouse gas emissions. They are a clean and compact way to move millions of passengers and millions of tons of goods across countries and continents.
It has emerged as a convenient mode of transport for the economy.
Railways in the past
Railway services are over 160 years old and have been serving the passengers since then. The first-ever train in India was operated in 1853 between Bombay(now, Mumbai) and Thane.
Earlier, trains were powered by steam, electricity, and diesel fuel. Trains were basically steam engines that ran on the tracks. Steam trains started out running at 30 mph in 1830.
Due to the speed of the trains, travel by trains took a lot more time than it takes now. The trip took more time as well as money for the passenger.
It was necessary in the previous times to plan the trip in advance and leave on time to avoid any delay in the trip.
However, unlike today railways were one of the two options that could be used for travel. This was the reason that passengers could not choose among a variety of options as they had only two-three choices.
Railways Now
Unlike earlier, railways are much more convenient and reasonable in the current scenario.
The trains are no longer run using coal and utilize the power of electricity. Due to the new technique, travel time is minimized along with the fare charged by the sector.
Especially for long travels, it is very much convenient to opt for trains.
Apart from improvement in travel time and fare, the railway has also been enhanced in terms of facilities provided to the passengers. These include food services to the passengers, proper bedding i.e. bedroll, pillow, and blankets, information regarding the status of the train, and an online booking facility for ticket reservation.
The Railways, not only in India but all across the world have emerged as a necessary service. The developments made in the sector have been immense.
Competitors in the Railways Sector
Although railways are one of the major modes of transport, it is not the only one. There are certain competitors in this sector.
Road Transport
Road transport has also emerged as a great sector in the past few years. People prefer travelling on roads either by their own vehicles or public vehicles like buses.
Road transportation has given a neck-to-neck competition to railways i.e. travel by train.
Metro trains
Metro trains, which are modified trains, are also giving tough competition to trains. For short-duration travel, many of us prefer the metro. The reason for such a choice is the high speed, easy commute, and a decent environment.
However, metro trains cannot replace trains as they can't opt as a mode of transport for interstate or long trips.
Air Transport
Air transport is another mode of transport. But unlike trains, these do not provide reasonable rides. Travel by aeroplane is not that reasonable. The major advantage that air transport has over railways is time efficiency. Air transport takes much less time as compared to any other mode of transport.
Conclusion
The railway is an essential sector of any country's economy. For the Indian economy as well it is an important part.
Railways have emerged and enhanced in the past few years. The growth of the sector is still continuing.
Written by-Srishti Kumar
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