From Clean trains to Gati Shakti Cargo terminals: Railways reform plan 2026 targets on-board service and freight growth

Railways reform plan 2026: The Ministry of Railways has announced its Reform Plan 2026, aimed at enhancing on-board services in trains and strengthening rail-based logistics through the expansion of Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals and other cargo-related facilities. ## Railways reforms for better on-board train services The national transporter has planned a reform agenda aimed at prioritising clean and hygienic travel, establishing clear responsibility and accountability for deployed service providers, engaging professional, self-disciplined and proactive personnel to enhance customer satisfaction. The plan also focuses on leveraging technology for real-time monitoring, passenger feedback and performance management. The key measures proposed to improve on-board services in trains include an integrated cleaning, linen and petty repairs model, deployment of multi-tasking and cross-skilled staff as the passenger interface, engagement of leading service providers with a proven track record, and technology-enabled real-time monitoring. The plan also allows flexibility to adopt route-specific team deployment models for long-distance trains. It also plans a phased implementation over two years with periodic reviews. According to the Railways, the scope of on-board services covers maintenance of all coaches, including general coaches, with cleaning of toilets and basins as well as garbage collection. It also includes attending to minor repairs, co-ordinating water refilling as required, checking and reporting the status of safety equipment, and deployment of trained supervisors and service staff. On Saturday, addressing a press conference at Rail Bhavan, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that that this reform has been created with the thought process of completely improving the travel environment for customers. He added that In consultation with Zonal Railways, approximately four to five trains per zone, primarily long-distance and high footfall trains, have been identified for rollout over the next six months. “A total of 80 trains have already been identified across zones in the first phase, and over a period of three years the reform will be implemented across all trains of Indian Railways. The selection of trains has been carried out at the managerial level based on field inputs and operational criteria,” Vaishnaw said. Zones | Count | Zones | Count CR | 6 | NWR | 5 ECoR | 6 | SCR | 5 ECR | 5 | SECR | 4 ER | 5 | SER | 3 NCR | 6 | SR | 5 NER | 5 | SWR | 5 NFR | 5 | WCR | 5 NR | 5 | WR | 5 Total : 80 ## Railways reforms for Rail based logistics through Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals and Cargo Related Facilities According to the Railways, the new policy on rail-based logistics through Gati Shakti Cargo Terminals and related cargo facilities aims to promote multi-modal logistics by integrating rail with road, ports and industrial corridors, reduce logistics costs by integrating cargo-related activities with freight terminals and enhance revenue through Guaranteed Railway Freight (GRF). “Gati Shakti Cargo Terminal (GCT) Policy introduced in 2022, which significantly simplified the cargo terminal approval process. Work that earlier took six years began getting completed in approximately three months, and approvals for engineering drawings, signalling plans and electrical plans were streamlined. As a result, 124 multi-modal cargo terminals were developed with an estimated traffic potential of around 200 million tonnes and revenue potential of approximately Rs 20,000 crore annually,” Vaishnaw said. Features of new policy • Cargo related facilities on railway land: Development of warehouses, grinding units, processing & aggregation permitted on spare railway land. • Underutilized goodsheds: Can be developed as GCT and cargo facilities. • Migration to GCT Policy: Easier migration of sidings & private freight terminals with a simplified process. • Common User Facilities (CUF): Definition expanded to include Y-Connection, Rail-over-Rail, etc. • Multi-GCT Connectivity: Clear methodology defined for providing connection to new GCT applicants to existing connectivity. • Standard layouts: Standard layouts of the Gatishakti terminals have been made a part of the policy. • Simplified Dispute Resolution: Framework for dispute prevention outlined in the policy. Dispute resolution has been simplified with powers delegated to DRM. • Long term contracts: Long term contracts of 50 years for GCT and Cargo related facilities. Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More