Taking a cue from its last six months experience in organising short trips and jolly rides on Nilgiri Mountain Railway, the Southern Railway is mulling two more services to two stations on NMR route. Railways is also exploring the feasibility of operating a Bharat Darshan service to Kerala.
General Manager of Southern Railway R. Kulshrestha made these submissions before the Lok Sabha Standing Committee on Estimates during its recent visit to the Nilgiris. Southern Railway is also focussing on track doubling and gauge conversions to ease congestion and expand the rail network map. The General Manager also pointed out the drastic fall in consumption of diesel and added that the non-fare earnings could be effectively used for promoting ecotourism.
Principal Chief Operations Manager S. Anantharaman ruled out the idea of running luxury trains as it was fully governed by State Tourism Corporations.
Special coaches
Southern Railway also hinted at special coaches for ailing patients on important trains. IRCTC officials said that on Rajdhani Express trains plastics cups and plates have been replaced with those made from sugarcane pith.