Cash on wheels: Indian Railways tests India's first train ATM

In a breaking move to enhance passenger convenience, Indian Railways has launched an innovative ‘on wheels’ service—an ATM facility onboard trains. This initiative seeks to enhance passenger convenience by offering banking services during travel.

If reports are to go by, In a first-of-its-kind initiative in India, the Central Railway has successfully tested an onboard ATM service aboard the Mumbai-Manmad Panchavati Express , providing passengers with the convenience of withdrawing cash while traveling. The trial was conducted on Tuesday and marked a significant step in bringing financial services directly to train passengers.

In partnership with Indian Railways' Bhusawal division, the Bank of Maharashtra put the ATM inside an air-conditioned coach. The Innovative and Non-Fare Revenue Ideas Scheme (INFRIS) includes this effort, which aims to increase non-ticket revenue while improving passenger convenience.

The coach's structure was altered at the Manmad Railway Workshop to make room for the ATM. At the back of the coach, the ATM was installed in lieu of a temporary pantry. A shuttered door design ensures safety and accessibility while preserving security throughout the trip.


Although the trial run was mostly smooth, officials noted brief network issues between Igatpuri and Kasara, a stretch known for limited signal coverage due to multiple tunnels. Nevertheless, the ATM was fully functional for most of the route and accessible to all passengers, as all 22 coaches of the Panchavati Express are interlinked via vestibules.

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The Panchavati Express, which runs daily between Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Manmad Junction in Nashik, completes its one-way journey in approximately 4 hours and 35 minutes. The new ATM service is expected to benefit not only travelers on this route but also passengers of the Mumbai–Hingoli Janshatabdi Express, as the two trains share the same rake.

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This move is made by Indian Railways at a time when the latter is changing fast to provide world-class services to the people. From WIFI to new-generation stations and improved food services, this addition of ATMs further proves Indian Railways' dedication towards catering to their own people by offering enhanced and user-friendly solutions. These ATMs have been installed in an AC coach but can be accessed by other passengers as well. For the consumer's privacy, a shutter door will ensure safety while the train is moving.

Some key benefits of the ATM service: Easy access to cash: Travelers no longer have to worry about running out of money on their trip.
Improved convenience: Especially useful in case of emergencies or when traveling to remote locations where banking facilities are limited.
Improved security: Since cash is being withdrawn in a secure environment, it minimizes the risks involved in carrying large sums of money.
If the pilot project turns out well, Indian Railways will likely introduce this service on additional routes and trains in the near future. Later versions of this service could potentially have cash deposit facilities, mini bank branches on certain trains, or even mobile banking kiosks at railway stations.