Highlights of Railway Budget 2008-09

Highlights of the Railway Budget 2008-09, presented in the Lok Sabha Tuesday by Railway Minister Lalu Prasad:
More trains in peak season Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains to have more modern coaches Cash surplus in 2007-08 pegged at Rs 250 billion Indian currency (IC)
New earnings of 21 percent in 2007-08
Rs.492.50 billion invested in new projects Operating ratio a favourable 76 percent
Additional Rs 200 billion earned on freight services
790 million tonnes payload target achieved 15,000 automated ticket machines by 2009
It ensures free season tickets to girl students till graduation 50 per cent concession for AIDS patients, senior women citizens and Ashok Chakra awardees.
It ensures that arrival time will be printed on tickets wait-listed e-tickets to be introduced. "Tickets to be confirmed through mobile phones, 20,000-km of high-density network planned 30 major stations to have multi-level platforms," it states.
Hospital trains to be introduced with healthcare and operating facilities 16,548-km of railway track to be replaced and railways to build cargo terminals in 50 major locations.
Private companies can also have their own cargo terminals on railway land