The Hindu Business Line : Southern Railway earns more from special trains

REVENUE for Southern Railway from running special trains during April to November 2005 has more than doubled to Rs 21.98 crore compared with Rs 10.84 crore in the year-ago period.

It ran 976 special trains during April-November compared with 633 trains in the same period the previous year. "It was a record for Southern Railway, and was done without additional coaches," according to a Southern Railway source.

It ran 491 special seasonal trains (like annual school holidays in May-June and Diwali) during April-November and earned Rs 10.99 crore compared with 430 trains and revenue of Rs 6.33 crore for the same period the previous year.

And, to clear the huge waiting list it ran 465 (174) special trains which fetched Rs 9.20 crore (Rs 2.79 crore). Revenue from running special trains for films increased to Rs 44.22 lakh (Rs 23.94 lakh) during April-November. The Southern Railway on an average earned Rs 3.40 lakh (Rs 1.59 lakh) per train by letting out for film shootings. There was, however, a drop in earnings from FTR (full tariff rate) special trains, a full train. Revenue from this was Rs 1.34 crore (Rs 1.46 crore).

The Southern Railway was able to run special trains by proper utilisation of its 4,045 coaches.

In other words, a coach travelled 700 km a day during April-November compared with 450 km in the corresponding period the previous year, the source said.

Southern Railway will run 226 special trains for New Year and Pongal from and to places such as Chennai, Bangalore, Ernakulam, Kottayam and Vijaywada. There has been an overwhelming demand for such trains, the source added.