Rail Budget 2016: 10 things every traveller must take a note of

Here are a few things in this year's railway budget that every traveller needs to know.

It's not new that Indian Railways is known globally for having one of the strongest railway networks in the world. Quite naturally, a large chunk of those travelling across the country consider trains as one of the key modes of transport.

The much-awaited railway budget was presented by Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhuon Thursday. Let's take a quick look at the things in this budget that every traveller must know.

1. It's not new that Indian Railways is known globally for having one of the strongest railway networks in the world. Quite naturally, a large chunk of those travelling across the country consider trains as one of the key modes of transport.
2. The much-awaited railway budget was presented by Union Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday. Let's take a quick look at the things in this budget that every traveller must know.
3. WiFi services will be available in 100 stations this year, and the service will be expanded to 400 more over the next two years. This will keep travellers well-connected at all times, and help them beat the boredom.
4. The walls of many station across the country are being painted with murals. This will make the railway stations tourist attractions themselves. Besides, it will give travellers a glimpse into the local attractions and a peek into the cultural richness of the particular region.
5. Railway stations of pilgrimage destinations will be beautified. While Puri will be the first to be beautified, other places included in this project are Ajmer, Dwarka, Gaya, Varanasi, Haridwar and Parasnath among others.
6. IRCTC will soon please travellers with a wide variety of food choices that will include local cuisines of choice. E-catering will be expanded from 40 stations to 408 stations. In order to make train journeys hassle-free for travelling mothers, a children's menu and baby food will be on offer.
7. Train journeys might not be that boring anymore for travellers, as very soon, FM stations are expected to provide train train borne entertainment via PA systems.
8. Tejas, the new train with an operating speed of 130kmph and world-class on board services will make train journeys more interesting for any traveller.
9. Booking tickets is expected to become quicker and more hassle-free, as the capacity of e-ticketing system has been enhanced from 2000 tickets per minute to 7,200 per minute.
10. Travellers will be able to explore a lot of new destinations as the north-eastern states of Mizoram and Tripura will be soon connected via a broad-gauge railway network.