Following are the highlights of the Rail Budget:

> No hike in basic passenger fares; reservation charges, tatkal fee raised

> Across the board hike in freight charges by an average of about 5.8 per cent

> Reservation fee for AC First and Executive classes raised to Rs 60 from Rs 35 and that of First Class and AC-2 doubled to Rs 50

> Reservation fee for AC Chair Car, AC-3 Economy and AC-3 tier increased to Rs 40 from Rs 25

> Supplementary charges for superfast trains raised between Rs 5 and Rs 25

> Tatkal charges for sleeper class raised by Rs 15 to Rs 25 and for AC Chair car from Rs 25 to Rs 50

> Tatkal charges in AC-3 tier increased by Rs 50; AC-2 tier and Executive class by Rs 100

> Cancellation charges increased for all classes between Rs 5 and Rs 50

> No increase in parcel and luggage rates

> 67 new express trains to be introduced, 27 passenger trains, 8 DEMU and 5 MEMU services to be introduced

> An independent Rail Tariff Authority has been formalised

> Dynamic fuel adjustment component to be introduced on freight rates from 1st April, that will result in less than five per cent increase in rates

> 12th Plan railway size to be Rs 5.19 lakh crore, with gross budgetary support of Rs 1.94 lakh crore

> Proposes elimination of 10,797 level crossing during 12th Plan and introduction of Train Protection Warning System on automatic signalling systems

> Introduction of self-propelled accident relief trains and rehabilitation of 17 distressed bridges over next year

> Provision of comprehensive fire and smoke detection systems and use of fire retardant furnishing materials in coaches

> Centralised catering services monitoring cell set up with toll free number 1800-111-321

> Steps to curb malpractices in reserved tickets including tatkal scheme

> Number of trains up from 8,897 in 2001 to 12,335 now

> Corporate Safety Plan to be prepared for 10 year period (2014-24)

> Railways to set up 6 more Rail Neer bottling plants: Bansal

> Free wi-fi facility to be provided in select trains: Bansal

> Provision of announcement facility and electronic display boards in trains

> Special A/C coaches Anubhuti, to be introduced in Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains to give excellent ambience with commensurate fare

> SMS alert service being rolled out shortly to intimate passengers about reservation status and covering larger number of trains under Real Time Information System

> Internet booking to be provided from 0030 hours to 2330 hours and e-ticketing through mobile phones

> Proposal for Next-Gen e-ticketing system; capable of handling 7,200 tickets per minute against 2,000 now and 1.2 lakh users simultaneously against 40,000 currently

> Introduction of 72 additional services in Mumbai and 18 in Kolkata

>Rake length increased from 9 cars to 12 cars for 80 services in Kolkata and 30 services in Chennai

> Rail budget proposes introduction of first AC EMU rake on Mumbai suburban network in 2013-14

> Run of 57 trains to be extended and frequency of 24 trains to be increased.

> Identification of 104 important stations for immediate attention to cleanliness aspects and upgrading 60 stations as Adarsh Stations in addition to 980 already selected

> Progressive extension of bio-toilets on trains

> Extension of Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS), Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs), Coin-operated Ticket Vending Machines (CO-TVMs) and scheme of Jan-Sadharan Ticket Booking Sevaks (JTBSs)

> Recruitment of RPF with 10 per cent vacancies reserved for women

> Launching multi-modal travel package in cooperation with government of Jammu and Kashmir and issuing 'Yatra Parchis' to pilgrims travelling by rail to Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine

> Railways set to enter 1 billion ton freight club of China, Russia and US

> Allocation of Rs 1,000 crore each made for railway land development authority and railway station development authority

> Aadhar to be used for various passenger and staff related services

> Rs 3,000 crore loan from Finance Ministry re-paid with interest by Railways this financial year

> Railways to set up a Debt Service Fund

> Highest ever plan outlay of Rs 63,363 crore in 2013-14. Market borrowing pegged at Rs 15,103 crore

> Freight loading target for 2013-14 at 1,047 MT, 40 MT more than 2012-13

> Passenger growth estimated at 5.2 per cent and gross traffic receipts estimated at Rs 1,43,742 crore in 2013-14 (up Rs 18,062 crore over revised estimates of 2012-13)

> Ordinary working expenses estimated at Rs 96,500 crore, operating ratio to be 87.8 pc and dividend at Rs 6,249 crore

> Railway proposes 500 km new lines, doubling of 750 km and gauge conversion in 450 km of lines in 2013-14

> Concessional travel for award winning sports persons

> 1.52 lakh vacancies to be filled this year

> Proposal for setting up Railway Tariff Regulatory Authority formulated