This refers to the editorial, “Going beyond Gatimaan” (April 7). The flagging off of India’s fastest train, the Gatimaan Express, is a welcome initiative in the spirit of the theme of this year’s Railway Budget overcome challenges, re-organise, restructure and rejuvenate Indian Railways.
The launch of Gatimaan Express is a shot in the arm for the Government and Indian Railways. One must applaud the initiatives taken by Minister for Railways Suresh Prabhu, to enhance passenger experience and make the train journey a pleasant experience.
The introduction of onboard facilities like quality catering, hospitality services by uniformed personnel, access to Wi-fi and entertainment, special emphasis on hygiene and cleanliness and provision for bio-toilets, will go a long way to narrow the divide between rail and air travel in terms of experience. The Government should also come up with a holistic review framework and feedback mechanism so as to extend the benefits of such services across the country.