While India is expected to be a key player in Copenhagen this December at the United Nations Framework for Climate Change Committee, it will literally miss the train as far as symbolic support for the summit is concerned.

On account of the Centre?s austerity drive that has suggested limiting foreign trips by officials, Indian Railways has decided not to participate in the International Union of Railways? Train to Copenhagen Programme and Environment Conference.

The Train to Copenhagen and the conference have been organised by the International Union of Railways (UIC), which is a worldwide organisation for railway cooperation as a precursor to the Copenhagen summit on climate change. It is aimed at documenting the impact of climate change and also raising awareness about low-carbon transport solutions, such as railways.

While the Train to Copenhagen will cover 9,000 km between Kyoto and Copenhagen in a month-long journey, UIC Asia?s Environment Conference will be held on November 5 and 6, 2009 in Kyoto, with railway officials from across the world discussing issues such as energy research and management and the role of railways in it.

?We had invited Indian Railways to take part in the conference as it is one of the largest railway networks in the world. But they decided not to send any participants because of the ongoing austerity drive by the government,? an official with the UIC told FE.

In an attempt to rein in its burgeoning expenses, the finance ministry has advised all ministries follow ?economy measures? such as limiting foreign travel, except where strictly necessary.

But even before North Block?s guidelines had come out, railway minister Mamata Banerjee had decided to put restrictions on foreign tours by her officials. ?It is not possible to stop foreign tours when transfer of technology is required, but we will try to restrict tours for other purposes. The money thus saved would be used to improve passenger safety and amenities,? the minister had said in June this year.

?It is a policy direction and we have to abide by it,? a railway ministry official commented on the issue.