With revenues growing by 10-18% a year, Indian Railways has announced its largest ever cash outlay of over $5bn in the 2006-2007 period. Major technological up-grades are planned and over 550km of new lines will be introduced. A 150km/hour speed train recently began operation from Delhi to Agra and this will be extended from Delhi-Kanpur-Lucknow.

Over 6,000 new staff have already been recruited this year and in Mumbai alone, 200 modern ticket vending machines are being installed. The good news for passengers is that there will be no increase in fares this year.