Sonam Wangchuk calls on ministry of railways to treat all trains as equal

Sonam Wangchuk, known for his innovative ideas and contributions to civil rights and ecology, has expressed his concern over the rigid, static timetable followed by Indian Railways — which actual operations often fail to adhere to in the face of changing climate and traffic conditions and which fails to acknowledge regional needs or take advantage of technological advancements that other nations already use.

In a video shared on X and Instagram, Wangchuk says it is ‘hard to be a train lover in India’ as his train runs late by 7 hours — and flags the stepmotherly treatment meted out to non-premium trains, presumably the ones without a ‘Vande Bharat’ tag.

In the video, he suggests that the Indian Railways should move away from a traditional, fixed timetable approach and adopt a more flexible, dynamic system. This would allow trains to operate more efficiently, adapt to real-time conditions and minimise delays caused by factors such as fog, extreme weather or congestion.

Regarding the issue of fog and its impact on train operations, particularly in northern India, Wangchuk has suggested that the Indian Railways should explore modern, tech-driven solutions to mitigate the risks caused by heavy fog, which often leads to delayed trains and safety hazards. He has also emphasised the potential role of young Indian tech experts in developing innovative solutions for such problems.

In a post on X, Wangchuk has called on the Ministry of Railways to treat all trains equally. He has also asked young Indian techies to help solve fog problems.

‘TRAINS ARE MY FAVOURITE BUT... Calling young Indian techies to solve the fog problem & @RailMinIndia to treat all trains equal,’ Wangchuk wrote on X.

Wangchuk has consistently advocated for the engagement of India’s youth and tech professionals in solving complex national issues, and in this case, he seems to be calling for a more scientific and technological approach to improving railway safety and operations during the foggy season.

Involving young engineers and techies could provide creative solutions, such as advanced sensor technologies, AI or data analytics, to help mitigate the challenges posed by fog.

Apparently, his critique is based the belief that a rigid timetable doesn't account for unpredictable challenges, such as adverse weather conditions or unforeseen operational issues. Instead of sticking to a fixed schedule, he advocates for a system where trains’ departure and arrival times are adjusted based on real-time factors, improving overall efficiency and safety — and customer experience.

Wangchuk has been a vocal proponent of incorporating more innovative and forward-thinking solutions in India's infrastructure, including transportation, and his ideas resonate with the growing need for smarter systems in sectors such as the railways.

By leveraging technology and real-time data, can’t Indian Railways optimise operations and better serve passengers, especially during times of predictable seasonal stressors such as heavy fog?

This was yesterday, 15 January. Now, having arrived in Kolkata on 16 January, he has shared another video from the railway station, after his train reached at 5:15 a.m.