Rlys has to compete with other modes: Lalu

The need to work on common programmes like development of high speed railways and international freight corridors figured high on the agenda of the Executive Board of the International Union of Railways, which met hours before the Global Rail Freight Conference here today.

Inaugurating the conference, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav said the demand for transport is growing as a result of globalisation. And Railways has to compete with other modes of transportation as well. “Despite being an environment-friendly and cheaper mode of transport, trains are not able to maintain a proper market share in the transport market. We need to ensure its expansion and development for that to happen,” he said.

“High speed railways is one area that is growing fast and there is a need to expand the knowledge on the same,” said UIC and Indian Railway Board chairman J P Batra.

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“A rail-cum-sea corridor from China to Europe, and further to America, has been identified on which trial runs are expected to start from October. Once operational, this corridor would halve the time taken to transport goods from China to America,” he added.

India is set to sign and ratify the inter-governmental agreement on Trans Asian Railways (TAR) sometime in the middle of the year at the UN. Several routes envisaged under TAR could give India access to Europe and US through China.