The Indian Railways is planning a major upgrade of its Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi train services, aiming to improve passenger comfort and onboard facilities across some of its most widely used routes, according to Indian Express.
The Railway Board has asked all zones to conduct detailed inspections of train rakes, identify gaps and prepare time-bound plans to fix them. The move is part of a broader push to modernise existing premium chair car services that continue to carry a large number of passengers daily.
Focus on comfort, interiors and smoother ride
The upgrade plan centres on improving basic amenities that directly affect passenger experience. Toilets, passenger facilities have been identified as priority areas, along with efforts to reduce jerks during travel for a smoother ride.
“…the following indicative items are improvement in toilets including doors, engagement locks, wash basins, flushing systems, amenities, drainage etc. Seat upholstery and associated amenity items (Charging ports, snack tables, foot rests, arm rests, roller blinds, magazine pockets etc.),” said the board, according to Indian Express.
Officials said changes will also cover coach interiors, including flooring, lighting, overhead panels and vestibule areas. Exterior improvements such as better window fittings and overall aesthetics are also part of the plan.
Safety systems and large-scale rollout planned
In addition to comfort upgrades, the railways are looking to strengthen onboard safety and communication systems. This includes improvements in digital passenger information systems and wider use of CCTV surveillance inside coaches.
“Railways have planned to upgrade around 100 services (50 trains) of Shatabdi and Jan-Shatabdi trains. It is part of Railways’ initiative to modernize the existing trains. Total expenditure required for this is yet to be finalized. Zonal Railways will implement this scheme. They have been asked to carry out audits, identify gaps, and implement corrective measures,” said a senior Railway official.
Introduced in 1988, the Shatabdi Express once represented the premium end of short-distance train travel in India. Its more affordable counterpart, the Jan Shatabdi, was launched in 2002 to serve a wider passenger base. While newer trains like Vande Bharat have since taken the spotlight, these services continue to remain crucial links on busy intercity routes across the country.
The planned upgrades are expected to bring these trains closer to current passenger expectations, especially on high-traffic routes such as New Delhi–Lucknow, Chennai–Bengaluru and Howrah–Puri, among others.