Yards at busy stations like Varanasi, Lucknow to be remodelled

In a bid to tackle complaints of trains running behind schedule and delay due to stoppages at outer signal, Northern Railway has decided to remodel yards of busy stations like Varanasi, Faizabad and Lucknow.
"The problem of trains getting late and delayed at outer signal for longer period at busy stations like Lucknow and Varanasi is mainly due to the yards. To tackle this, yards would be remodelled," Divisional Railway Manager NR (Lucknow) Anil Kumar Lahoti told PTI.
While Varanasi is parliamentary constituency of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh represents Lucknow in Lok Sabha.
Lahoti said that not only Lucknow and Varanasi, there would be remodelling of other stations under the jurisdiction of NR like Faizabad, Sultanpur, Pratapgarh, Rae Bareli and Prayag.

"This work will be completed in two to three years," he said.
Lahoti said that yards at these stations were very old and the length of platform was insufficient due to which problems were being faced in train operations.

"Earlier trains used to have maximum of 14 coaches and the yards were modelled accordingly. Now, trains are of 22 to 24 coaches. Old yards and platforms are not compatible for long trains," he said.
Asked about problems in train operation due to construction of yard at Varanasi railway station, the DRM said that trains would be run from Mahuadeeh and Varanasi City railway stations.

He said there was a need to develop facilities at these two railway stations and he has talked to DRM (NER) in this regard.
"The work will be executed in coordination with North-Eastern Railway," he said.
Regarding Faizabad, Lahoti said that it has mechanical interlocking and signals too were old.
"There along with constructing new yard, modern electronic interlocking and LED coloured signals will be installed," he said.
He said that during the process of remodelling of yards, new washing lines will be developed, so that proper cleaning and maintenance of trains could be ensured.
Lahoti said that as of now hurdles were being faced in receiving and dispatching trains in the yards.

He expressed hope that once the yards were remodelled, problem of trains running behind schedule would be sorted out effectively. Also, increasing the length of platform would facilitate passengers in boarding and de-boarding the trains.