New Delhi, Jul 2 (IANS): A day after inviting the request for qualifications from private entities for running 151 trains on 109 pairs of routes, Railway Board Chairman V.K. Yadav on Thursday said the private train operations would begin by April 2023 and the fares in these trains would be competitive with air fares on similar routes.

Addressing a virtual press conference, Yadav said private players in passenger train operations would mean a quantum jump in introduction of modern technology and high-speed coaches.

The improvement in technology would also mean the coaches that required maintenance after 4,000 km, would need maintenance after every 40,000 km, that's either once or twice a month, he added.

Yadav said the train sets would have to be brought by private operators and maintained by them.

"Private train operations are likely to begin by April 2023. All coaches will be procured under the 'Make in India' policy. Fares in private trains will be competitive and rates on other modes of transport, like airlines and buses, will have to be kept in mind," he said.

Yadav said the private operators would pay fixed haulage charges for path, stations, access to railway infrastructure and charges for electricity consumed to the Indian Railways for 35 years. It will also share revenue with the Indian Railways through competitive bidding.

The private entity would have to ensure 95 per cent punctuality and not more than one failure per lakh kilometre of travel. "If any performance indicators are not met by private players, they will be penalised," Yadav said.

He also said there would be a power metre in every locomotive and private operators would pay for the actual amount of energy consumed.

"Through this the common man will get better trains, better technology and at low cost. The Indian Railways will continue to run 95 per cent of the trains," he said.

The Chairman said of the 2,800 mail express train operated by the railways, only 151 trains, just 5 per cent, was being given to the private players.