Train

Trains are one of the best transport options for commuting long distances. Low fare, punctuality of time, and ease of travel make the journey by train, both economical and comfortable. Besides, there are several other by train. You can relax, stretch, move around or even take a nap; something which could hardly be imagined while travelling in a car or bus.

A journey on train also offers exclusive view of the landscape and culture as the train passes through the countryside. In journey across the states, one gets to see latter’s traditional dresses, agricultural crops and culture. One also gets the taste of local cuisine as it is served by the vendors in the railway stations and wagons. The journey is also entertaining as you can interact with fellow passengers from different regions and linguistic backgrounds.

Long and Short Essay on Train Journey in English

Below we have provided Long and Short Essay on Train Journey of varying lengths in English for your information and use.

These easy and simple Train Journey Essay will give you hands on experience of a train journey and its advantages.

After going through the essay you will be all praise about it and trains will become your favorite modes of transport.

These essays are good source of knowledge and will help you in your school assignments or essay writing/debate competitions etc.

Short Essay on A Journey by Train – Essay 1 (200 words)

A journey by train is among the most enjoyable journeys. I travel long distance quite often and have travelled via buses, trains as well as aeroplanes. While each of these journeys has its set of benefits, I personally love train journeys.

A journey by train is the best if you have enough time and have to travel long distance. This is the only means of transport that allows you to sleep comfortably during the journey. I prefer travelling at night. I can comfortably sleep in the train during my journey and wake up fresh and head to work during my official trips. One of my most memorable journeys by train was when I travelled from Delhi to Lucknow last year. I went to visit my relatives in Lucknow. During this train journey, I met a group of college students. The group was lively, cheerful and extremely friendly.

As I was sitting right besides them, they offered me some snacks and cold drink. They soon began conversing with me. They narrated some of their experiences and I shared mine. I also gave them career advice. The six hours journey passed very swiftly and we reached Lucknow. As we parted, we exchanged our phone numbers and promised to keep in touch.

Essay on Train Journey – Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

Train journeys are always fun. They have always excited me. I have been travelling via trains ever since my childhood. My maternal grandparents lived in Kanpur and we stayed in Delhi. We always travelled via night train to reach Kanpur. We visited them twice a year and I really looked forward to this trip not only because I loved meeting my grandparents but also because I really loved the train journey. My sister loved it as much and together we had a lot of fun.

My Most Memorable Train Journey

We mostly went there with our mother during our summer and winter vacations. However, once my aunt and cousins also accompanied us. This was one of the best train journeys of my life. We took to the top berth after having the delicious biryani our mother had cooked for us.

We had already planned that we will stay awake until late at night to enjoy the journey in each other’s company. We began the fun by playing cards. As we finished a game or two, two boys sitting in the middle berth asked us if they could join us. Playing cards is always fun when there are greater number of players involved. So, we agreed. Our game became all the more exciting and we kept playing for about two- three hours. Since our compartment was occupied only by us and those two brothers and their parents, there was no fuss about turning off the lights.

After playing cards, we began a game of dumb charades. It was all the more fun. Since, we had been playing for almost four hours now, we felt hungry and it was snack time. We stealthily took out chips and biscuits from our bags. We chatted, cracked jokes and laughed heartily as we ate snacks. It was almost 2 at night when we decided to sleep.

Conclusion

This was indeed a great experience. I will remember this train journey all my life. I made memories to cherish forever.

Essay on My Train Journey: Best Experience – Essay 3 (400 words)

Introduction

It was the month of September and the autumn break was about to begin in a few weeks’ time. Our first term exams had just been over and we were free from the burden of studies at least for a few days. Our school plans excursion trips to various places during the autumn break. I always wanted to go on such a trip and have fun with my friends.

My First Train Journey with Friends

While my parents allowed me to go on local school excursions, they had always been sceptic about sending me on out stationed trips. They thought I was too young and careless and thus feared sending me. I tried to convince them each year I saw the notice about these school trips pasted on the notice board but they refused. However, after a lot of persuading in class VII, my mother promised that she will send me when I reach class IX as I will grow older and become more mature by then.

So, last year I reminded her of her promise. Though reluctant, she agreed to send me on my school trip to Jaipur. She also convinced my father and he gave the written consent along with the amount that had to be deposited for the trip. My joy knew no bounds. Few of my close friends had also got consent from their parents and we were super thrilled about our trip. I was not only excited about visiting Jaipur but also about the train journey.

My Train Journey Experience

I was lucky to get the window seat. It was a day journey of around 5 hours and there was a lot to see outside the window. The sight of small sand hills, green fields and long roads fascinated me and I glued to the window for most part of the journey. For the rest of the journey, we played dumb charades and antakshari which was super fun. I just wished the journey never came to end. However, before we even realized, we reached the Jaipur station. As I roamed around from fort to fort in the Pink city, I dreamt of the train journey back to my home town as I thoroughly enjoyed train journeys. Our train journey back home was as much fun.

Conclusion

Train journeys have always fascinated me. I have gone on quite a few of them but this one was all the more special as I was accompanied by my friends. I am looking forward to more such train journeys.

Essay on My Awesome Train Journey – Essay 4 (500 words)

Introduction

Train journeys have always fascinated me. Be it a day journey or a night journey I, always prefer travelling by train. During my day journey by train, I love sitting by the window to watch the view outside. I just love the sight of the green fields, huge trees, huts and water bodies. I can sit for hours watching this view from the moving train. What I like about the night journeys is that trains offer a lot of space and comfort. We can lie down comfortably and doze off to sleep. Sleeping in a moving train is an experience of its own and I just love it.

My Train Journey from Shimla to Kalka

While all my train journeys have been memorable there is one that I will cherish forever. This was my train journey from Shimla to Kalka. This train journey was like no other.

We had heard a lot about the Shimla – Kalka train journey and really wanted to experience it. It is said that the train comes under the world heritage list of UNESCO. However, since our plan was made all of a sudden, we could not get the tickets for travelling from Kalka to Shimla which was disappointing.

At first, we thought of cancelling or postponing the trip however then we decided to take a bus to Shimla. The tickets from Shimla to Kalka were available so we booked our return journey by the much talked about toy train that runs on this route. While I was all excited about my trip to Shimla and enjoyed every bit of it with my family, I was constantly dreaming about our journey back home as I couldn’t wait for the toy train experience.

My Awesome Train Journey Experience

We reached the station few minutes before the train departure time. I was thrilled looking at the train and couldn’t wait to board it. We soon kept our luggage in the train and sat on our seats. I grabbed the window seat to witness the scenic view outside. As the train started, I saw the mesmerizing view of the hills covered with pine trees. There was greenery all round. It had rained a night before and thus the flora looked even greener and fresh. It was a breathtaking sight.

The toy train covers a distance of 96 km and there was not a single moment when we got bored during this journey. There was so much to view and experience. The train travels at a slow speed and takes around 5-6 hours to reach Kalka so that we can experience the natural surroundings to the fullest. It goes through 102 tunnels and this makes the journey all the more amazing. It also passes over as many as 864 bridges and offers an experience which is one-of-its-kind. While I sat by the window for most part of my journey, I also went and stood by the train door for around an hour or so to have a closer look at the nature.

Conclusion

Every bit of my train journey from Shimla to Kalka was enjoyable. The experience was simply unmatched. Every train journey lover must experience this at least once in their life time. Nature lovers would love it all the more.

Long Essay on Train Journey: Advantages and Disadvantages – Essay 5 (600 words)

Introduction

Train journeys are preferred by many owing to the various benefits they offer. However, some people much rather prefer travelling by their own vehicle or buses to avoid the downside of the train journeys. At times, it becomes quite difficult to decide the mode of transport as all these have their own set of pros and cons. Here is a look at the various advantages and disadvantages of train journey:

Advantages of Train Journey

Here are the various advantages of train journey:

1. Space and Comfort

Train is one of the best means of transports if we look in terms of space and comfort. There is enough space to sit and even lie down, a privilege we don’t get in the buses, cars or planes. Kids can easily play board games. Group outings become all the more fun as we can enjoy various games and activities sitting face to face.

2. Long Journeys Made Easy

Since trains offer berths to sleep and washrooms to freshen up, travelling long distance via trains becomes quite easy. The washroom facility is especially one of the main benefits train journeys offer over bus and car journeys.

3. No Restriction on the Amount of Luggage

There is a limit to the amount of luggage one can carry in the aeroplane. Buses also do not have enough space to accommodate a lot of luggage. However, there is no such restriction during the train journeys. If you require carrying a good amount of luggage then train journeys are certainly the best.

4. Safe Option

Train is also considered a safer means to travel compared to buses, cars and aeroplanes. Travelling in hills is especially safer via trains compared to buses and cars.

5. Allows Productive Use of Time

You can easily take out your laptop and work on it while you are travelling via train. You can also read your book comfortably or indulge in other tasks such as knitting and sewing while travelling through train.

Disadvantages of Train Journey

Here are some disadvantages of train journey:

1. Planning Ahead

One of the main difficulties of travelling via train is that you have to plan your journey months or weeks before your travel date. It is difficult to get train tickets for trips that are planned instantly.

2. Difficulty in Reservation

Train reservation is a difficult task. You have to visit the railway station and stand in the queue for hours to get the tickets reserved which is extremely tiring. You can also get the ticket reserved online but that is again a tedious task as the train booking site is too slow.

3. Fixed Schedule

Trains run on a fixed schedule. You may be required to catch trains at odd times and this can be difficult at times. Delay in reaching the railway station even by a few minutes means missing the train and it is difficult to spend time on the railway station if you reach early.

4. Slower Option

Travelling a long distance by train means investing a day or two in journey is unlike planes which can cover same distance within few hours. So it is not a good option for students or working professionals who cannot take so many leaves and spend so much time on travelling.

5. Cleanliness Issue

While trains have washrooms which is considered to be a big plus of the train journeys these are mostly not maintained well. Un-kept and unclean washrooms are a big put off. Their use must be avoided as it can cause infection.

Conclusion

Thus, we see train journeys have a number of advantages however they also have certain disadvantages. While space, comfort and the facility to carry enough luggages attracts travellers to option for train journeys, difficulty of reservation and the need to plan the journey way ahead of the travel date makes them look for other options.

Train journeys are quite exciting, interesting and comfortable too. Train is in fact one of the most comfortable and economical mode of travel for long distances. I have travelled to several places by train and made some of the best memories during these journeys. Those have been the most relaxing and thrilling journeys of my life. Watching villages, cultures, houses as you sped across the countryside, has always pricked my curiosity for better. It’s fascinating that how a train journey could enhance your knowledge about cultures, regions, languages and cuisines. The journey is like reading a book which has all the ingredients to keep you entertained till the destination. Another, advantage of a journey by train is that it gives an opportunity to interact with people with completely different ethnicity and linguistic backgrounds.

Long and Short Essay on A Journey by Train in English

Below we have provided long and short essay on ‘A Journey by Train’ of varying lengths in English.

These ‘A Journey by Train’ essay will take you through the experiences of a train journey and their advantages.

They will also prove helpful to help you with the topic in your exam.

You can select any A Journey by Train Essay as per your interest and present it in your class, essay writing or debate competitions.

Short Essay on ‘A Journey by Train’ – Essay 1 (200 words)

Train journeys are super fun especially while travelling with a group of friends. One of my most memorable journeys by train was my journey from Delhi to Jaipur. It was a school trip and we were all really excited about it. We had numerous plans for the trip and were especially looking forward to have a great time on our way.

We all reached the railway station by 6 in the morning and the train started within few minutes. I occupied the window seat to see the view outside. The view of the green fields, muddy roads and huts on the way was delightful. My best friend sat beside me and we chatted as we looked outside.

Soon, it was time for breakfast. I loved the cutlets and bread served in the train. We also had hot tomato soup after having a plate of bread and cutlets. After the breakfast, we all decided to play antakshari. Playing antakshari in large groups is always fun. Our teachers also joined us thereby adding to the fun. We played antakshari for the rest of the journey and before we even knew we had reached our destination. It was a great experience. The company of my friends made this train journey all the more gleeful.

 Essay on ‘A Journey by Train to Shimla’ – Essay 2 (300 words)

Introduction

Shimla is a beautiful hill station but what is even more amazing is the train journey from Kalka to Shimla via the special toy train that runs on this route. The route it takes is just mesmerizing. Trip to Shimla is incomplete if one doesn’t travel by this train. So, we booked our tickets in advance to experience this much talked about train journey as we planned our trip to Shimla.

Journey to Shimla by Toy Train

We went to Shimla last year during the autumn break. We travelled by bus to Kalka and from there we took the toy train to Shimla. I thought it would be like a usual train journey with some mountains and valleys in view but it actually turned out to be super thrilling and exciting. We were amid nature all through our journey. We didn’t just get the view of the mountains, valleys and the greenery around, we felt like being a part of it as the train went through the mountains giving the true feel of the nature.

It was a 5-6 hours journey and I thoroughly enjoyed every bit of it. The route was full of tunnels and bridges that added to the experience. There were more than 100 tunnels and around 800 bridges on the route. I sat by the window all through the journey to take the outside view.  We also stepped out of the train as it stopped on a station on the way. It was a small station and the train stopped for just about ten minutes.

I was accompanied by my parents and brother. They enjoyed the trip as much as I did. We travelled by the same train on our way back too.

Conclusion

This was indeed the best train journey of my life. I love being amid nature. This is the reason why I enjoyed it all the more. I really wish to go on this route again.

Essay on ‘My First Train Journey’ – Essay 3 (400 words)

Introduction

I went on my first train journey when I was in 2^nd standard. It was my maternal aunt’s wedding and we had to go to Dehradun to attend the same. As the news broke, there was joy and excitement all around. My mother began deciding the dresses she would wear on the wedding and my father started planning our travel. It was decided that we will be travelling by train with few of our relatives. I was super thrilled about the journey as this was the first time I was travelling by train.

Planning the Train Journey

Train journeys are different from road trips. One needs to plan ahead to ensure a smooth travel. After looking at all the trains running on that route, my parents drilled down to the most suitable and convenient option. The tickets were booked days ahead of the trip. Our bags were packed and all the other necessary arrangements were made for the trip.

It was a night journey. We reached the railway station on time, settled ourselves and the train started within few minutes.

Fun on the Way

We greeted our relatives as we settled ourselves for the long journey ahead. We were meeting many of them after months. So, there was a lot to talk about. I sat with my cousins and we planned to have a lot of fun on the way. They had brought few games. We started playing an interesting board game.

After few rounds of the game, my mother called us for dinner. The dinner served in the train was delicious. After having my dinner, I sat by the window. Since it was night there was nothing much to see outside however I enjoyed sitting in the corner hearing the noise of the running train. It was a different experience for me.

As everyone finished the dinner, we decided to play antakshari. All our relatives joined us to play this fun game. We played antakshari for an hour and then it was time to sleep.

The middle berths were opened and soon everyone dozed off. I woke up early the next morning and was delighted to see the view outside. The green fields, the rising sun, and the range of hills that stood at a distance and the huts that came along the way – everything seemed just beautiful. This was the best part of my train journey.

Conclusion

All in all, my first train journey was super exciting and interesting. I loved every bit of it. The company of my cousins made it all the more fun.

Essay on ‘A Memorable Journey by Train’ – Essay 4 (500 words)

Introduction

I have gone on many train journeys with my family as well as friends. Travelling by train is comfortable and enjoyable. I always prefer train journeys over road trips for the experience they offer. I have made great memories on these trips. While I have enjoyed all my train journeys, my train travel from Delhi to Goa is the closest to my heart.

Journey from Delhi to Goa

I went for a trip to Goa with my classmates when I was in seventh standard. The trip was planned by the school. After much persuasion, my parents agreed to send me on the trip. Most of my friends also got the consent from their parents. We planned to do a lot of fun things on the trip.

Besides, site-seeing and having fun with friends on the trip, I was also excited about the train journey. The train journey from Delhi to Goa was for around one and a half day. This was the longest journey I had ever gone on. I was really looking forward to it.

My parents dropped me to the station. They were a bit anxious as this was the first time I was travelling so far without them. My mother gave me last minute instructions and I nodded obediently as I eagerly awaited the train. We left from Delhi at around 5 in the evening. I sat by the window with one of my friends by my side.

Travelling with Friends

Travelling with friends is always fun. I had been to Jaipur, Nanital and Shimla with my friends. All these trips were planned by our school. We travelled by train on all these trips and had a lot of fun on the way but none of them involved so much travelling. Most of these were overnight journeys. But on our trip to Goa we spent one night and one and a half day in the train.

I kept sitting by the window for the first two-three hours of the journey. I loved the view outside. As it started getting dark, I joined my friends who were playing dumb charades. We kept playing this game until it was time for dinner. After having our dinner, we chatted until late night. We shared our experiences, narrated interesting stories and mimicked our teachers. It was all great fun. I slept comfortably at night and woke up late.

The breakfast was served almost immediately after I woke up. After having the breakfast, I went and stood by the train door which was half opened. The view outside was beautiful. I love nature and I can watch the trees, hills and the water bodies for hours. It soothes and pleases my senses and offers a delightful experience.

I kept standing there for a long time. One of my friends joined me there. We enjoyed the view and spoke about our love for travelling and nature. During the rest of the day, we played games, had food and chatted with each other. We reached Goa at around 11 at night.

Conclusion

This train journey was an awesome experience. I enjoyed it thoroughly and made several beautiful memories on the way.

Long Essay on ‘A Journey by Train’ – Essay 5 (600 words)

Introduction

Train journeys are economical, comfortable and fascinating. It is a complete experience in itself. While travelling by train, I am not eager to reach the destination, I rather enjoy each moment of the journey. I have made many friends during my train journeys and had several new experiences.

Advantages of Journey by Train

Train journeys offer numerous advantages. Some of these advantages are shared below:

• One of the main advantages of train journey is the comfort and convenience it offers. Unlike cars, buses and aeroplanes, you have the option to lie down and sleep while travelling by train. Overnight journey by train is thus much more convenient compared to that by car or bus. One can sleep comfortably through the night and wake up fresh.
• There is no restriction on the luggage. One can carry as much luggage as he wants while travelling via train unlike the aeroplanes where a limit is set for the same.
• Trains have washrooms that make long journeys more convenient.
• One can study or work comfortably on a laptop during train journey. Thus, the time spent in travelling can be put to productive use.
• Trains are quite economical as compared to cabs and aeroplanes. One can travel long distance at a nominal cost.

Disadvantages of Journey by Train

While train journeys offer a number of advantages, there are certain disadvantages attached to them too. Here is a look at these disadvantages:

• One of the biggest by train is that one needs to plan the trip and get the tickets booked days before the journey. This is quite unlike travelling by car or bus wherein one can plan the trip and get going even the next day.
• Booking the ticket can be quite taxing. People who go to the railway station to book the tickets need to stand in the queue for hours. Booking train tickets online is also quite time consuming as the railway booking site sometimes get quite slow due to increased traffic.
• Though the trains have washrooms and restrooms, these are not as clean and hygienic as they should be.
• Trains often get delayed due to different reasons. This can be quite annoying and exhausting.
• Compared to aeroplanes, travel time taken by trains is much higher. It is not a good option for those who need to reach somewhere urgently.

My Train Journey Experience

I have been on many train journeys since my childhood. I have gone to Mount Abu, Udaipur, Varanasi, Shimla, Chandigarh, Lucknow, Bombay and many other places with family, friends and relatives. I have travelled to most of these places by train. What I love most about train journeys is the view outside. I love to sit by the window and watch the natural surroundings that come by during the journey. I often take a novel along as I love reading while travelling.

Train journeys become all the more fun when we are travelling in groups. There are so many fun things to do on the way. We crack jokes, sing songs, play games and chit chat for hours during the journey. We also get a chance to meet new people. It feels great when we meet like-minded people on our way. It makes the trip quite enjoyable. There is so much to talk about and share. I have made quite a few friends during my train journeys.

Conclusion

Train journeys have their set of advantages and disadvantages. While planning ahead, booking tickets and strict train schedules can be a put off; comfortable travel and good utilization of time are some of the advantages it offers. I have been on several train journeys and I really look forward to them.

You’re wearing your clothes, all dressed up to watch the X-Factor finals with your friends. But your dad’s car broke down, and your mum has plans. What are you going to do? Have you considered using public transport? It’s cheap, easy and very quick, however it does have its down sides.

Using public transport is very cheap and free for all ages 16 and under. Mayor of London, Boris Johnson agreed that he would “look at what we can do next year to bear down on fares”. However if you lose your oyster card or are off by 20p you’re forced to walk on your own two feet. So public transport isn’t what it’s cracked up to be.

Using public transport teaches us to be more independent in terms of being capable as a person to navigate around networks and read maps as well as in terms of being able to get around without relying on your parents. In contrast, the media has shown that crime rates on public transport have increased. “Policeman reveals rape victim for EIGHT minutes before being thrown off bus for not having the full fair.” The 22-year-old student begged the bus driver to let her on board but he refused because she was only 20p short, “She was so badly battered that her mother failed to recognise her.” Reported the daily mail.

Worried about the environment? Well, using public transport is a greener and a better mode of transport for the environment as oppose to going everywhere by car. Carbon emission will be reduced with your help. You could use public transport or bike to get around, as well as keeping you fit and healthy it’s like a walk in the park. On the other hand waiting for the bus or train is a death penalty; you never know who is sitting next to you. Practically in urban areas there can be problems with behaviour and conduct with other passengers as well as the driver.

Getting the train to get from A to B is the quickest way as you’re avoiding all traffic and congestion. Although getting on the tube is like visiting a hospital, with all the germs around who know what you could catch. Viruses spread through the air and also transfer via hand-to-hand contact. On public transportation, the transfer takes place when you touch a support bar or strap that a sick person held. You rub your itchy eye, you welcome the Swine Flu.

The most popular method of public transport as researchers have found the 64% of 14 – 19 year olds use the bus to manoeuvre, because it’s the least cost effective. Whilst 64% of teenagers use the bus to get around only a mere 32% of parents encourage their children to use it. However public transport is a nightmare, delays and engineering works could ruin your day or night out.

Sara Jama from Queens Park has been using public transport for 4 years now and says “I wouldn’t use any other way, I have been using the bus to get to school, and haven’t been late more than twice. It’s very easy all i have to do is tap my oyster card and wait ’till my stop arrives. Using the train is similar, i top up my oyster card which costs around £1.40, depending on where i’m going and sit in my seat. And if i ever get lost i’ve always got the tube map to help me.” As an experienced traveller i personally agree with Jama, using public transport is a piece of cake.

So the next time you’re ready to go out, but your dad’s car broke down and your mum has plans, don’t panic. Just grab your oyster card and hop on the nearest bus or train, but go with a sibling or arrange to meet up with a friend. Just in case, because public transport has the X-Factor.

Evidence

“I wouldn’t use any other way, I have been using the bus to get to school, and haven’t been late more than twice. It’s very easy all i have to do is tap my oyster card and wait ’till my stop arrives. Using the train is similar, i top up my oyster card which costs around £1.40, depending on where i’m going and sit in my seat. And if i ever get lost i’ve always got the tube map to help me.” – Sara Jama

Who are the stakeholders in this case? The stakeholders in this case are the passengers, crew and their families, aboard the Amtrak train that derailed. They are also the corporate investors who hold stock in Amtrak and all Amtrak employees who have invested their time in employment with the organization. They could easily lose their jobs if a major layoff occurred or the organization filed for bankruptcy due to the millions they would be required to pay in damages. Stakeholders are the members of the Mobile, Alabama community who either witnessed or heard about the disaster and who may have lost trust in this railway system.

The crew and captain of the tug boat which ran its barges into the framework of the bridge are also stakeholders, along with the owners and investors of the transport company in which they were employed. The emergency workers, the agencies such as NTSB, the Alabama Emergency Response Network and the U. S. Coast Guard are stakeholders as well. What are the interests of the stakeholders? Investors in the transport company, CSX and Amtrak stand to lose money as such disasters can lead to public distrust and subsequent falling stock prices.

They must answer to the public as to why emergency signals were not designed on the bridge. Families have lost loved ones as passengers or crew members that they cannot bring back. Crew members that lived must deal with feelings of guilt for not being able to do more and not being aware of exactly what had happened. They will also have to face many questions from agencies investigating the disaster and will face stressful situations, possibly for years to come. Their careers and way of earning a living may also be in jeopardy due to the effects of this disaster.

Crew and families of the tug boat crews must face feelings of guilt and shame. What is this corporation’s social corporate responsibility in this case for the four areas of corporate social responsibility? •Legal Social Responsibility With respect to the legal responsibility, both CSX who failed to provide a signal on the bridge and WGN, whose crew ran into and damaged the bridge, while displacing the track have a financial responsibility toward families whose loved ones made a living, whether crew or passengers.

Amtrak also shares in this responsibility for not taking greater precautions, such as reduced speed, knowing that some bridges are not installed with emergency signals. There is also a financial burden to repair the damages to the bridge and CSX track by WGN, who initially caused the event that led to the derailment. According to Mallen Baker (2009), “CSR is about building relationships with customers, about attracting and retaining talented staff, about managing risk, and about assuring reputation. ” In this instance, both CSX and WGN did a poor job of managing risk.

WGN is responsible for not having staff with better training and navigation skills and CSX for ignoring recommendations to install emergency signals on the bridge. •Economic Social Responsibility CSX, Amtrak and NTSB have economic social responsibility in reducing the risk of injury or loss of life due to such incidents, which has a huge financial impact on the families of passengers and crew. WGN shares in this responsibility as well. Though CSX did not install emergency signals, the NTSB should provide greater oversight to ensure such precautions are taken.

WGN should be aware of the problems that can occur when a large vessel runs into various structures and should help in repairing the emotional and financial lives of the victims of the accident. Both CSX/Amtrak and WGN have an economic responsibility to the shareholders of their respective corporations, to ensure that business processed provide the smoothest possible operations, for best possible returns on investments. When disasters such as this one occur, investors stand to lose substantial financial gains. •Ethical Social Responsibility

All agencies and companies involved have an ethical responsibility to make sure that various forms of travel or transport they oversee or are involved in are as safe as possible for their crews and passengers. Ignoring recommendations such as CSX did, in not installing the emergency signal due to cost is an example of social irresponsibility (Eisenbeis, et al, nd). Amtrak could have better communications and emergency systems aboard the trains and passenger cars, to alert the entire crew of emergencies. Though this may not be an issue of irresponsibility, it has implications for future rail travel.

WGN has an ethical responsibility to ensure that vessel crews are trained and updated on navigation techniques, so that injury to innocent bystanders does not occur. They also have an ethical responsibility to have proper navigation systems on board the vessels. •Philanthropic Social Responsibility Travel and transport organizations do not have a specific responsibility to become involved in philanthropic activities, though they should at least insure that the communities in which they travel through are not adversely affected either economically or environmentally, as a result of their travels.

They could take measures to provide incentives for jobs and training for jobs of those in the communities in which they travel through, as taxpayers of those communities share the burden of building bridges and roads. Because the organizations also contribute to introducing carbon emissions into the environment, they should work with and offer some financial support to organizations that help monitor and provide solutions for carbon emissions. Conclusion and Recommendation I believe better communication by all parties involved would have reduced injuries.

Amtrak should have had regulations in place for speed during weather conditions and safety devices for the rail in front of them could have avoided a lot of the accident. Having markers in place for emergency response units, would have allowed them to give a more specific place of the wreck. When people’s lives are at stake all ethical issues and laws should be put in full swing. Common sense would have prevented all of this. Large corporations such as Amtrak should have trained employees and safety standards in place.

Introduction

Indian Railways is the nationalized railway company of India which owns and operates most of the country’s rail transport. It is the world’s second largest employer behind Chinese army; has one of the largest and busiest rail networks in the world, an extensive network, which is spread over 60000 Route Kilometre, of which approximately 30 per cent is electrified.

The Indian Railways have played an integrating role in the social and economic development of the country , transporting over 18 million passengers and more than 2 million tonnes of freight daily, it is the world’s largest commercial or utility employer, with more than 1. 4 million employees. Besides its stated function of transporting men and goods across the length and breadth of the country, it also enhances the country’s economy. As the country is emerging as one of the rapidly growing economies in the world, the need for a well- organized transport infrastructure would become more vital.

Although there have been other modes of transport available in the country, Indian Railways is still able to maintain its competitive position due to many advantages like geographical diversity, world’s largest networks, and above all its economical fares in delivering the services. Marketing Mix Product Railways offer three major types of services:

1. Freight Service
2. Passenger Service
3. Parcel Service

Freight Service

IR carries a huge variety of goods ranging from mineral ores, fertilizers and petrochemicals, agricultural produce, iron & steel, multimodal traffic and others. Ports and major urban areas have their own dedicated freight lines and yards. Many important freight stops have dedicated platforms and independent lines. Indian Railways makes 70% of its revenues and most of its profits from the freight sector, and uses these profits to cross-subsidise the loss-making passenger sector. . Within the freight segment, bulk traffic accounts for nearly 95 per cent, of which more than 44 per cent is contributed by coal. Indian Railways also transports vehicles over long distances. Trucks that carry goods to a particular location are hauled back by trains saving the trucking company on unnecessary fuel expenses.

Refrigerated vans are also available in many areas. The “Green Van” is a special type used to transport fresh food and vegetables. Recently Indian Railways introduced the special ‘Container Rajdhani’ or CONRAJ, for high priority freight. The highest speed notched up for a freight train is 120 kilometres per hour (75 mph) for a 5,500 metric tonne load. Under the Eleventh Five Year Plan of India (2007–2012), Ministry of Railways is constructing a new Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) covering about 2762 route km long.

Passenger Service

Duronto Express

These are the non-stop point to point rail services (except for operational stops) introduced for the first time in 2009. These trains connect the metros and major state capitals of India and are faster than Rajdhani Express. The Duronto services consists of classes of accommodation namely first AC, two-tier AC, three-tier AC, AC 3 Tier Economy, Sleeper Class, General Class. *

Rajdhani Express

These are all air-conditioned trains linking major cities to New Delhi. The Rajdhanis have high priority and are one of the fastest trains in India, travelling at about 140 km/h (87 mph). There are only a few stops on a Rajdhani route.

Shatabdi and Jan Shatabdi Express

The Shatabdi trains are AC intercity seater-type trains for travel during day. Jan-Shatabdi trains consists of both AC and non-AC classes. * Garib Rath Fully air conditioned trains, designed for those who cannot afford to travel in the expensive Shatabti and Rajdhani Express. Garib Rath means “Chariot of the Poor”. The maximum speed is 130 km/h. * Superfast Mail/Express These are trains that have an average speed greater than 55 km/h (34 mph). Tickets for these trains have an additional super-fast surcharge. Mail/Express These are the most common kind of trains in India. They have more stops than their super-fast counterparts, but they stop only at relatively important intermediate stations.

Rajya Rani Express

These are a series of express trains operated by Indian Railways to connect state capitals with other cities important for tourism, pilgrimage or business. * Passenger and Fast Passenger These are slow trains that stop at most stations along the route and are the cheapest trains. The trains generally have unreserved seating accommodation but some night trains have sleeper and 3A compartments. Suburban trains These trains operate in urban areas, usually stop at all stations and have unreserved seating accommodation.

Special Tourist Trains

• Palace on Wheels,
• Deccan Odyssey,
• Heritage On Wheels,
• Golden Chariot,
• Darjeeling Toy Train
• Price Freight Traffic

A number of steps have been taken in the recent years to augment the railway loading as well as the earning of the Railways. As a result of those steps, the Freight earning of the Railways increased from Rs. 36,287 crore in 2005-06 to Rs. 41,717 crore in 2006-07 (increase of 16 per cent) and the loading increased from 667. 0 MT in 2005-06 to 728. 41 MT in 2006-07 (increase of 9. 2 per cent). Continuing the process further, the Railways have taken many initiatives to increase the railways freight earnings such as discount up to 30 per cent has been permitted on traffic loaded in the notified Traditional Empty Flow Directions during both busy and lean seasons, along with special long term; lump sum rates and other concessions. Passenger Traffic Pricing process is very complex due to the presence of various types of trains, quotas, classes, and concessions.

The Pricing strategy is based on keeping in mind the need the entire population of the country and is mainly based on the type of class as described below:

1. AThe First class AC: This is the most expensive class, where the fares are on par with airlines. Bedding is included with the fare in IR. This air conditioned coach is present only on popular routes between metropolitan cities and can carry 18 passengers. The coaches are carpeted, have sleeping accommodation and have privacy features like personal coupes.
2. AAC-Two tier: Air conditioned coaches with sleeping berths, ample leg room, curtains and individual reading lamps. Berths are usually arranged in two tiers in bays of six, four across the width of the coach then the gangway then two berths long ways, with curtains provided to give some privacy from those walking up and down. Bedding is included with the fare. A broad gauge coach can carry 48 passengers. * FCFirst class: Same as 1AC, without the air conditioning. This class is not very common.
3. AAC three tier: Air conditioned coaches with sleeping berths. Berths are usually arranged as in 2AC but with three tiers across the width and two long ways as before giving eight bays of eight. They are slightly less well appointed, usually no reading lights or curtained off gangways. Bedding is included with fare. It carries 64 passengers in broad gauge.
4. 3EAC three tier (Economy): Air conditioned coaches with sleeping berths, present in Garib Rath Trains. Berths are usually arranged as in 3AC but with three tiers across the width and three long ways. They are slightly less well appointed, usually no reading lights or curtained off gangways. Bedding is not included with fare.
5. CCAC chair car: An air-conditioned seater coach with a total of five seats in a row used for day travel between cities.
6. ECExecutive class chair car: An air-conditioned seater coach with a total of four seats in a row used for day travel between cities.
7. SLSleeper class: The sleeper class is the most common coach, and usually ten or more coaches could be attached. These are regular sleeping coaches with three berths vertically stacked. In broad gauge, it carries 72 passengers per coach. Railways have modified certain Sleeper Coaches on popular trains to accommodate 81 passengers in place of regular 72 passengers. This was done in order to facilitate benefits like clear the Passenger rush and simultaneously earn more revenue.But this has got lukewarm response with criticism from the travellers and railways have decided to remove them.
8. SSeater class: Same as AC Chair car, but with bench style seats and without the air-conditioning.
9. URUnreserved: The cheapest accommodation, the seats usually made up of pressed wood, but the cushioned seats have been rapidly replaced. Although entry into the compartment is guaranteed, a sitting seat is not guaranteed. Tickets issued are valid on any train on the same route if boarded within 24 hours of buying the ticket. These coaches are usually very crowded. Also higher prices are charged for Tatkal scheme and lower for senior citizens and children below 12 years of age. As a part of ongoing marketing strategy, a number of steps have been taken by Indian Railways such as reduction in fares, proliferation of ticketing facility, introduction of Passengers Incentive Schemes like Upgradation, Scheme for Frequent Travellers (SOFT), etc.

Place Tickets can be booked through a variety of ways:

1. Book in Person at Stations
2. Computerized Reservation Centre
3. Online booking
4. SMS Travel Agents Promotion Since the Indian Railways is a monopoly, they do not spend much on promotional activities. Their major promotions include advertising in print media, usually newspapers and hoardings. They sponsor certain national events such as the recently held Commonwealth Games in Delhi and beam TV commercials during that period.

Bibliography

1. http://www. sustainable-sourcing. com/2009/06/29/nhs-procurements-10-carbon-chal lenge/
2. www. wikipedia. org http://indiabudg et. nic. in/es2001-02/chapt2002/chap98. pdf
3. http ://en. wikipedia. org/wiki/Indian Railways

SWOT Analysis Strengths: Network Rail took over ownership by buying Railtrack plc, which was in railway administration, from the Railtrack Group plc for ? 500 million in 2002. Railtrack had become subject to broad-based and persistent criticism, notably over cost escalations and delays with the West Coast Main Line modernisation and the circumstances surrounding accidents at Southall (1997), Ladbroke Grove (1999) and Hatfield (2000).

After these incidents Railtrack’s cost spiralled out of control, to remedy this situation which would ultimately lend to the company collapsing and being purchased by the government. By purchasing Railtrack when the company was being heavily criticised and by renaming it Network Rail it was seen as a favourable action because Railrack was in such a bad state it could only improve by being taken over. Network Rail are currently investing ? 800 million into the railway tracks every to improve and maintain the tracks, in 2006 alone the company spent ? billion on engineering projects improving stations, track and the efficiency of the railway industry. The company has also used this money to acquire state-of-the-art technology and invest large amounts of money in machinery such as ballast cleaners, the high-output train and track-relaying train. Spending this amount of money on the railway shows current and potential passengers that the company is very dedicated to maintaining and improving the railway and the services they provide. Weaknesses:

During the Christmas period of 2007 Network Rail planned maintenance to take place whilst passenger levels would be low with the expectation of the work being complete by New Years Eve. However this maintenance work got delayed and passengers were advised to check travelling schedules before attempting the go to their destination. The delays lasted for a total of 3 days and the service resumed to normal on 2nd January 2008. These delays heavily affected passengers as well as operating companies such as Virgin trains as 50,000 people had booked tickets to travel on 31st January.

By not informing the operating companies of the maintenance work they had planned for the holiday period they have damaged their relationship with the operating companies. They have also damaged their relationship with passengers as the delays hindered them from getting to spend the holiday period with their families. The derailments which occurred at Grayrigg, Potters Bar and Epsom have affected the reputation of Network Rail as they have accepted responsibility for the incidents.

As a result of this the Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) are currently conducting an investigation in to the incident and criminal charges may be brought. In the eyes of the public these incidents may bring back memories of the accidents at Southall, Ladbroke Grove and Hatfield and the public may begin to question the maintenance work which is being carried out on the railways. Network Rail announced at the beginning of 2008 that they would be raising train ticket fares. The regulated fares which included season tickets increased by an average of 4. % and many unregulated fares were set to rise by much more. The increase in ticket prices did not go down well with consumer groups who said the rises were unjustified, but train operators claimed the rises were needed to improve the railway and its services. Opportunities: Network Rail has the opportunity to transform Britain’s railway. They are trying to do this with their current projects such as: •Providing faster journeys between London, Manchester and Glasgow – Investing into the UK’s busiest railway line, the West Coast.

In the last two years the London-Manchester journey time has come down by over 30 minutes. Vital work continues in 2008 to reduce the bottleneck at Trent Valley and to improve capacity through Rugby and Nuneaton. •Improving communications between train drivers and signallers – Investing ? 1. 2 billion in building a nationwide system which enables train drivers and signallers to communicate securely at all times. This is an important safety improvement for the railway. Upgrading London’s transport network – Plans to upgrade the Thameslink route – A vital north-south artery through London – are progressing and the company plans to build world class stations in the UK’s capital. •Changing the face of Scotland’s railway – Plans to re-introduce the railway line between Airdrie and Bathgate. This is in addition to the redevelopment of Edinburgh Waverley station which is already underway Network Rail is also planning to have a large programme of investment for the London 2012 Olympic Games.

By raising the fares on train tickets Network rail have the potential to have an increased net profit at the end of 2008. If the company figures show more profit than the previous this means the company has more money to invest into the railways. Threats: The threats that Network Rail face are fines from the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR) for the delays to train services over the Christmas period. Network Rail have already incurred 2 fines from the ORR ? 2. 4m during Christmas in 2006 following signalling problems at Portsmouth and a record ? 4m for engineering overrunning during the New Year of 2008. By not meeting the standards of the ORR Network Rail will continue to incur fines, by having to pay fines costing millions of pounds they are losing money which they could use to invest back into the railways. Another threat which Network Rail faces is the threat of passengers deciding to travel by car and also companies wanting to use Lorries to transport goods (road haulage). Road haulage is the use of heavy goods vehicle’s to transport products and materials from place to place.

This could happen if railway lines get congested or routes are closed due to maintenance work or lack of use. PESTLE Analysis Political: Network Rail has to follow the rules of the Office of Rail Regulation (ORR). If they do not adhere to the rules and regulations of the ORR, they could face a fine which could result in the company paying millions of pounds. With England being part of the European Union (EU) Network Rail can buy and sell materials from any country in the EU because the has lowered the trade barriers. Economic

The railways can be used to transport goods all over the country. Some of the benefits of using a train to transport goods are: •Faster than lorries/trucks •Trains have multiple carriages so a number of goods can be delivered at once •It’s cheaper than using lorries/trucks As well as being part of the EU, Britain can trade materials with countries outside of the EU. Being able trade goods with a number of countries allows Network Rail to negotiate better deals on goods. The inflated price of fuel and the introduction of the low emission zone may increase the demand for railway industry.

As the inflation arise the costs of living increases therefore the price of using the railway must be at the price that the country can afford. Often delays to the passengers and delivering goods may costs the individuals and businesses, which may impact on the UK economy. Social With Network Rail increasing the prices of train tickets at the beginning of the year consumers were not happy with the unjustified price increase, however operators said that the price increase would mean that more money would be spent on the trains, railways and other services.

The railway system is a system that will always be needed in England because the trains reduce journey times and some trains produce lower emission fumes than cars. Having fast trains means passengers can get from place to place within 3 hours. Since network Rail has been investing money over the last 2 year the journey time from London to Manchester as decreased by over 30 minutes Technological Network Rail have used large sums of money to purchase state of the art echnology to help improve the communication between train drivers and signallers to communicate securely at all times, which is very an important part of railway safety. They have also invested money in machinery such as ballast cleaner, the high-output train and track-relaying train. Spending large sums of money to improve communication and improve the railway shows that Network Rail are trying to the railways and other components up to date. Legal Network Rail need to follow the rules and regulations of transport or railway acts which have been set by the government.

The modern railway statutes are: •Railways Act 1993 •Competition Act 1998 (insofar as it confers competition powers on the Office of Rail Regulation) •Transport Act 2000 •Railways and Transport Safety Act 2003 •Railways Act 2005 The company is accountable to a body of Members through its corporate constitution, to its commercial train operator customers through its contracts with them (the contracts are subject to regulatory oversight), and to the public interest through the statutory powers of the Office of Rail Regulation.

The Office of Rail Regulation in turn operates within the overall transport policy set by the UK Department for Transport Environmental Being a company which is governed Network Rail need to be seen as acting environmentally friendly. In an article written by The Times Newspaper (2007) the title for the article reads “Rail industry admits that it’s often greener for families to travel by car”. This statement means that travelling by car is less harm to the environment then travelling by train.

Network Rail has a social responsibility to keep pollution emissions low as the government is currently working towards reducing the carbon emissions in the UK to slow down global warming. “Modern diesel-powered trains are so polluting that a family of three or more would be responsible for at least double the carbon dioxide emissions on many routes when travelling by rail compared with driving in a typical medium-sized car. ” Source: http://travel. timesonline. co. uk/tol/life_and_style/travel/article2067255. ece

The T- box is a power generated device that harnesses wind energy as trains run over railroad tracks. This alternative form of wind energy produced by trains is very unique, as it does not depend on any natural energy sources. Instead, the energy generated from this device is produced as a consequence of human activity. The T- box device generates energy without any interference of the normal train operation – the device is installed between railroad ties, and is partially buried underground. As the train passes over the device, the wind generated from the train spins the turbine nside the T- box to generate electricity.

The T- box contains all the mechanical components required for harnessing, storing and supplying converted power. Hence, the power generated from this device can be supplied to public facilities along the railway and also to remote areas where electricity has not yet reached. The T-box How much power can the T- Box generate? A train moving at 125mph would generate a wind speed equivalent to 50 feet/ second. Wind blowing with such speed will let a normal wind power generator harness about 3500W of power. If a train is about 656 feet long, running at the pace of 187mph, and it moves along a 0. 2 mile railway track in about 18 seconds, the power generated in this small period by the T- boxes laid on the tracks will be 2. 6KW. Qian and Luparini estimate that about 1 50 T-box devices could be accomodated along a 0. 62 mile railway track. Installation of the T- box To fit the T- box on the tracks, some work has to be done on them: Firstly, concaves have to be constructed in cement between each of two sleepers Two brackets then ave to be placed on two sides of the concaves The brackets have to be examined to ensure that they are well fixed The T-box is then set upon the maneuvered tracks Installed T- boxes Is the T-box eco friendly?

The T- box has so far been considered quite environmentally friendly. The T- box does not produce any harmful chemicals nor has it been proven to have any other side effects thus far. Anticipated problems Keeping the T- box devices clean can pose great problem. As the train passes, quite a bit of dirt and debris will be kicked up, and will land on the upper surface of the T- ox. Also, grease and grime deposits escaping from underneath will contribute to contaminating the device.

Future of the T- box As the hunger tor alternative torms ot energy continues, the T-box nas generated hope. This device presents a new generation of wind power generators, and has created quite a sensation among techno buffs. However, it is important to remember that the design is still in the conceptual stage and has not taken into account all of the preservation and maintenance issues that are likely to pose a problem in any future use of this device.