India's first bullet train service to say 'sorry' for delays
In a country where train delays are taken for granted, the upcoming Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train service has said that it will set a new precedent. The service, which has been touted to set new benchmarks for punctuality and efficiency, will reportedly issue public apologies each time it is late, even if the delay is a couple of minutes. Here are the details.
The idea stems from Japan's bullet train network
The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL), which is responsible for the bullet train corridor and the service, is reportedly implementing the apology feature from the customer service manual of Japan's Shinkansen bullet train network. Speaking to IE, NHSRCL MD Achal Khare had said that the service would aim to acquire the Shinkansen culture where even a minute's delay is considered serious.
Khare's exact words
"We will apologize to our clients. We will also issue a public apology in the train, at stations, if we are delayed. This is the Shinkansen culture we aim to imbibe, wherein delay by even a minute or so is considered a delay," Khare had said.
However, delay certificates will not be issued
Khare said that the bullet train service would not just apologize for delays, but would also provide passengers with the reason for the delay. However, unlike the practice in Japan, the NHRSCL will not issue delay certificates to passengers. In Japan, the Shinkansen network issues delay certificates to passengers so that the certificates can be used to justify turning up late to work.
The service is expected to be functional by August 2022
To refresh your memory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone for the bullet train service in 2017. The first bullet train, according to the ambitious target set by PM Modi, is expected to roll out by August 15, 2022 - the 75th year of India's independence. The service will attempt to replicate Japan's Shinkansen bullet train network.
Important details about the upcoming bullet train project
When completed, the bullet train project will see as many as 70 trips per day, and the trains will travel at speeds of 320kmph. The bullet train corridor will span 508.17km, and will cover 155.76km in Maharashtra, 348.04km in Gujarat, and 4.3km in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. The service will stop at 12 stations - Sabarmati, Ahmedabad, Anand, Bharuch, Surat, Bilimora, Vapi, Boisar, Virar, Thane, and Mumbai.
How much will each ticket cost?
Reportedly, tickets for the bullet train service will cost 1.5 times the AC First Class fare for Indian Railways' train services connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad.
