The railways had recently signed an agreement with Indian Airlines appointing them as general sales agents for sale of Indrail passes and other tourism products overseas through their distribution network and retailers, an official release said here on Thursday.

Indian Airlines have also been authorised to sell computerised tickets, luxury train tickets, weekender packages and other rail tourism products. A similar agreement would be signed shortly with Air-India, the release said.

Foreign tourist quota would be augmented in important mail, express, Shatabdi and Rajdhani trains to facilitate comfortable access to important tourist destination by rail.

Railways have decided not to insist upon the proof of ageof foreign tourists at the time of seeking reservation. The fares for Indrail passes in certain categories are being scaled down reasonably from April this year, it added.

An awareness campaign will also be launched about rail travel facilities in India through attractive coloured posters, specially designed brochures, video films and translights in all overseas office of the Ministry of Tourism and Indian missions, the release said.

For encouraging youth tourism, railways plans to undertake a special Explore India rail travel plan for students of universities, colleges and schools during vacations, it said.

It was also intended to organise quiz competitions, painting competitions and poetry writing competitions with prizes like free travel in luxury trains and free Indrail passes.

The Explore India logo designed for this occasion would also be printed on nearly 23 crore railway tickets to generate awareness about the tourism campaign, it said.

The user friendly `Tatkal Service', it said, would beextended to more trains and in more classes to facilitate walk-in current reservation. Introduction of tele-booking facility was also being considered.