Title - Nearly 9 per cent rise in higher class train travellers

.NEW DELHI: The numbers of train passengers travelling in higher classes have increased by 8.95 per cent in April-June 2012 period as compared to the corresponding period of the previous year.

The increase in passenger traffic is due to a combination of factors like general increase in demand, growth in peak season rush and hence cannot be attributed solely to hike in airfare or otherwise, Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa said in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

Railways continuously strive to facilitate more passenger services by introducing new trains, enhancing the composition of higher class coaches in popular trains, running special trains and attaching extra coaches in the existing trains to cater to additional demand, he said.