Cash on Wheel: In a first-of-its-kind move, Indian Railways has introduced a revolutionary banking service for passengers ¨C an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in a train. This new feature has been installed as a part of a pilot project to make travelling more convenient. For the first time in India, passengers can now withdraw cash while on board a moving train.
The installed ATM in train is part of a trial run on the Panchavati Express, which travels between Mumbai¡¯s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Manmad Junction in Nashik. This service was tested successfully on a Tuesday by the Central Railway, making it a milestone moment in railway history.
The train journey takes around 4 hours and 35 minutes, and now, thanks to this new facility, passengers no longer have to worry about running out of cash mid-journey.
This onboard ATM in the train was developed in partnership with the Bank of Maharashtra and the Bhusawal division of Indian Railways. As part of the Innovative and Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme (INFRIS), the goal is to both serve passengers better and generate additional income beyond ticket sales.
To fit the ATM inside the train, a temporary pantry was removed, and the structure of an air-conditioned coach was modified at the Manmad Railway Workshop. The ATM is placed at the rear of the coach with a shuttered door for safety and ease of access. The coach remains connected with the rest of the train via vestibules, so passengers from any of the 22 coaches of the Panchavati Express can use it.
During the trial, there were small network issues between Igatpuri and Kasara, mainly due to tunnels in the area affecting signal strength. However, the ATM in train worked smoothly for most of the route and was fully functional for passengers.
This onboard ATM service could soon benefit passengers of other trains too. Since the Panchavati Express shares its rake with the Mumbai¨CHingoli Janshatabdi Express, passengers of that train may also get access to this unique cash withdrawal facility in the future.
If this trial is successful and gets positive feedback, Indian Railways may expand this ATM service to more trains across the country, helping lakhs of passengers withdraw money even while on the move.
With this bold new step, Indian Railways proves once again that it's moving towards smart and passenger-friendly travel. If you're taking the Panchavati Express, you may now enjoy the benefit of having an ATM on a train, right at your fingertips. This is just the beginning of a modern travel experience on Indian tracks.