Four Decades of Indian Railways (1950-1990 )

Story of Indian Railways is the story of Indian's macro-economics growth and social-economic transformation over a period of almost a century-and-a-half.

This book, with the help of over two hundred authentic tables, charts, graphs, etc., covers almost all aspects of development and growth of Indian Railways during the last 40 years.

The author, through the valuable data, information and analysis in this book, provides the reader not only with a vivid panorama of railways' performance over the four decades after India's independence but also offers a fascinating study on the cost affectiveness of the present structure of rail transport, with interesting conclusions. Besides, this study provides good material for fresh thinking on the railways for making transport system efficient and cost-beneficial from the users' point of view also.

The contents, among others, include :

• Key statistics - virtually on all relevant aspects of growth and development of Indian Railways

• Performance and other relevant comparisons with railway systems of 48 other countries including USA, USSR, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Japan, Australia etc. and also the developing countries of the third world

• Comparisons with road transport system

• Development through the five-year Plans

• Study and statistics of investment, inputs, working results, freight traffic, passenger traffic, etc.

• Profitability aspects of Indian Railways

• Setting up of Inland Transport Corporation

• Tariff changes and rationalisation of tariff structure

• Rationalisation of goods terminals and sidings

• Recommendations of steering committee for planning and development

• Electrification programmes

• Strategies and programmes for future : 1990-2000

• Transport pricing - various aspects including subsidy, and development needs

• Creating additional capacities; carrying of bulk commodities, revenue for bulk commodities, multipurpose wagons for freight traffic, etc.

• High-powered locomotives

• Cross subsidisation of traffic

• Economy in working expenses

• Policy relating to slow-moving passenger trains

• Uneconomic branch lines

• Passenger amenities

• Safety of rail travel

• Covered wagons for food and other vulnerable items

• Additional incentives for train-load movements

• Losses on "small" traffic

• Question of amalgamation of "small" and parcel rates

• Social burdens on Indian Railways.

• Exhaustive bibliography in four parts also includes Doctoral Dissertations on Indian Railways, and Transport as such, from 1857 to 1986 as submitted in various Indian Universities. 

Indian Railways — A Success Story
 
1. Indian Railways — Key statistics
2. Investment in Railways
3. The Growth of Inputs on Indian Railways — 1950-51 to 1988-89
4. Working Results — 1950-51 vis-a-vis 1988-89
5. Freight Traffic --- Main Trends — 1950-51 to 1988-89
6. Passenger Traffic --- Main Trends — 1950-51 to 1988-89
7. How to Improve Profitability of Railways through Rationalised Tariff Structure
8. Recommendations of Steering Committee for Planning and Development
9. Changes made in Tariffs from 1.4.1988, 1.4.1989, 1.4.1990 and 1.5.1990
10. Comparison of Indian Railways with other World Railways
11. Strategies for Future — 1990-2000 AD
12. Conclusion