Word: rails
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...Until the past few years, Indian Railways (IR) itself was sunk in a languorous snore. The state-owned company, the monopoly owner-operator of the country's rail system, runs 12,000 trains a day over 39,000 miles (62,750 km) of routes, making it the world's largest railroad under a single administration. It was also notorious for being slow, inefficient and requiring constant government bailouts. But over the past six years, India's most important form of transport - "the lifeline of the nation" as it is often called - has undergone a remarkable turnaround. In its fiscal year...
...Finally, passenger trains have also been increased in length. Until a few years ago a typical train had about 15 carriages. IR officials discovered that a passenger-train journey could earn a profit with 24 carriages, which became the target length. By pushing the "quicker, heavier, longer" mantra, rail bosses have also been able to improve services. For example, in 2006 IR began offering special express trains on certain routes such as the run between New Delhi and Agra, home of the Taj Mahal. Tourists making day trips to India's most popular tourist attraction now can book online...
...many people credit with rail's comeback is Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav. Known only as Lalu to his energetic supporters in the poor northern state of Bihar, Yadav is a controversial figure. He is adored by millions as a man of the people because he is of a lower caste - a rarity among politicians. Yet he is routinely vilified by his many detractors who claim his term as Chief Minister of Bihar was characterized by mismanagement and corruption. When he became Rail Minister in 2004, Yadav asked Kumar and his team to run the system on sounder business principles, even...
...more charity. IR wants to compete. Hoping to grab more of the long-haul freight business lost to truckers in recent years, rail bosses plan to borrow at least $15 billion to build a dedicated fast-freight corridor between Mumbai, New Delhi and Kolkata (formerly Calcutta). They also have big plans for some of the 1 million acres (420,000 hectares) of land that IR owns along rail lines and around stations and shunt yards. Real estate developers are currently bidding to overhaul the first of 16 major stations. At New Delhi's central station, which is likely worth billions...
...when he was 9, David Shields' father Milt stepped on the third rail while crossing some train tracks. Using a piece of wood, a friend rescued him from electrocution as well as--with seconds to spare--an oncoming train. Decades later, Milt rammed his car into a garbage truck and walked away unhurt. At 86, he had a heart attack while playing tennis. He not only finished the set but he also...