Highlights - Interim Rail Budget

2 per cent cut in AC-Fares.
43 new trains to be introduced in FY-2010.
Feasibility study for Delhi-Patna Bullet train going on.
Rail passenger growth up 14%.
43 new trains to be introduced in FY-2010.
Freight rate to remain unchanged.
Railways to spend Rs 4000 crore on pensions.
To invest Rs 2.3 cr in the next five years.
Railways has invested Rs 38,000 crore in 2008-09.
Railways cash reserves touch Rs 90,000 crore .
4 call centres set up for rail enquiry.
Customers can now book tickets online.
Profits registeres without hurting the common man.
Freight capacity up by 78%.
Railways got loans at 4%.
Mishap rate has dropped drastically.
Lalu: Our Rail Budget has always been for the poor.
This would be UPA's last railway budget during this term.
The budgetary support to the railway plan will be about Rs 10,800 crore, representing a significant step up of 37 per cent compared with Rs 7,874 crore in 2008-09.
Government officials said the minister was keen on gifting lower fares to the janata in an election year despite resistance within the ministry.
Expectations are that Lalu Prasad's populist budget for 2009- 10 will include a substantial investment of Rs 12,000 crore for the ambitious East-West freight corridor.
Lalu Prasad Yadav looks all set to keep his date with history when he rises to present the interim rail budget in Lok Sabha.