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Express trains ride the info highway

Following successful trials on the Bombay-New Delhi-Bombay Rajdhani Express, VSNL has agreed to provide 25 Inmarsat phones for use by the Indian Railways on their Rajdhani, Shatabadi and other express trains and the circular tourist trains such as Palace On Wheels and the Oriental Express.

Indian railways has reconfigured the pantry cars to provide suitable sound protected phone booths for travellers, a release said.

The new phones operate on Inmarsat satellite connections and have already been very successfully used by government organisations such as the police, defence, ONGC and emergency railway services and companies with plants in rural areas since they offer the freedom to phone anywhere anytime from a portable terminal.

All calls from the trains, whether within India or international, will cost only Rs 100 per minute, the release said.

Commenting on the new agreement D K Nimal, chief general manger, VSNL said, "We believe that the phones will assist business and casual passengers alike. The express journeys are often long and before now it was difficult for people to keep in touch especially when they are out of mobile range. Now, whether passengers want to do business, chat or need to advise family of a delay in arrival they will be able to do so by just going to the pantry car.

The phones, which use STN Atlas terminals, have already been installed in a number of trains on the Bombay-New Delhi and Delhi-Calcutta routes. It is expected that the other phones will be installed within three months, the release added.

UNI

Earlier:
Of railroads and info highways

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