Page 12 - Railways

Railways to run nearly 6K special trains this festive season: Vaishnaw

As the festive season approaches, Indian Railways has decided to run nearly 6,000 special trains to help more than one crore passengers get home for Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals. Besides, additional general coaches have been added to 108 trains and 12,500 coaches have been sanctioned to take care of the extra rush witnessed during festivals, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw told a select group of journalists here. Several train routes, especially those destined for Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal witness heavy rush during Durga Puja, Diwali and Chhath festivals. Vaishnaw said a total of 5,975 special trains have been notified so far for this year's festival season, up from 4,429 last year. "This will facilitate more than one crore passengers to go home during this puja rush," he said. Durga Puja begins on October 9, Diwali will be celebrated on October 31 while Chhath Puja will take place on November 7 and 8 this year.

NFR expands network, introduces new initiatives to promote tourism

One of the key initiatives adopted by NFR towards promoting tourism is the introduction of tourist trains with Vistadome coaches

Kavach rail safety system passes trial, set for nationwide rollout by 2030

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw called Kavach the 'future of rail safety,' with plans to install it in 10,000 locomotives and along 9,000 km of tracks in the first phase

Bittu sticks to remark against Rahul, asks Cong to protest against leader

Targeted by the Congress over his comments against Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, Union Minister Ravneet Singh Bittu defended his stand and said the opposition party should instead protest against Gandhi's remarks in the US on Sikhs. A few days ago, Bittu had attacked Gandhi over the statements he made in the US about the condition of Sikhs in India, saying if those "manufacturing bombs" were supporting the Congress leader, he was the "number one terrorist". An FIR has been registered in Bengaluru against Bittu for his remarks based on a complaint by one of the officer-bearers of the Congress' Karnataka unit. Bittu, the minister of state for Railways, who was here on Monday to inaugurate the 57th Inter Railway Shooting Competition at the Jagatpura Shooting range, said, "Rahul Gandhi himself goes to Gurudwara Darbar Sahib so many times. Who stops him? Therefore, this is not a matter of the party, it is above the party." "The Air Force chief wears a turban and the CI

Railway track tampered with in Surat, police suspect sabotage attempt

Unidentified persons allegedly tampered with a railway track by removing fish plates and loosening several bolts in an attempt to derail trains in Gujarat's Surat district on Saturday, police said. The sabotage attempt came to light before a train could pass through the affected track between Kosamba and Kim railway stations as a lineman detected the damage and alerted the railway authorities in the early hours of the day, officials said. Unidentified persons removed two fish plates that bolted the ends of two rails on the railway track and placed them on the parallel track, Superintendent of Police, Surat (rural), Hitesh Joysar said. They also loosened some 40-50 bolts, he said. Deputy Superintendent of Police RR Sarvaiya said a lineman inspecting the track discovered the tampering around 5.30 am and alerted the railway administration. "Railway engineers and other staff reached the site and repaired the line, and the movement of trains resumed," he said. Sarvaiya said the railwa

Northern Railway cancels, diverts 29 trains after freight train derailment

The Northern Railway has cancelled three and changed the routes of 26 express and mail trains originating from various stations in Delhi due to the derailment of a freight train near Vrindavan Road Station between Palwal-Mathura section in Uttar Pradesh. Releasing a list of diverted and cancelled trains, Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, CPRO, NR said that due to derailment of train between Vrindaban Road - Ajhai Station on Mathura Jn - Palwal Section of Agra Division over NCR several trains will remain temporarily cancelled or diverted. Some of the prominent trains whose routes have been diverted are New Delhi-Hyderabad, New Delhi-Tambaram, Hazrat Nizamuddin-Mumbai Bandra Terminus, Amritsar Jn-Mumbai Bandra Terminus, Hazrat Nizamuddin-Mumbai CSM Terminus and Hazrat Nizamuddin-Jabalpur among others. On September 18, 25 coal-loaded wagons of a freight train derailed near Vrindavan Road Station blocking three rail lines and, according to Railways, only one line is available for rail traffic

Jupiter Wagons to invest Rs 2,500 crore for production capacity expansion

JWL also informed that it has changed the name of its unit Bonatrans India Private to Jupiter Tatravagonka Railwheel Factory

PM launches Odisha govt's Subhadra Yojana, projects worth over Rs 3,800 cr

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday launched the Odisha government's flagship women-centric programme Subhadra Yojana, and unveiled railway and national highway projects worth over Rs 3,800 crore here, marking 100 days of the third NDA regime at the Centre. Modi also released the first instalment of assistance to nearly 10 lakh beneficiaries under PMAY-G across 14 states. He also took part in 'Griha Pravesh' celebrations for 26 lakh beneficiaries under the housing scheme from across the country. He also launched Awaas+ 2024 App for a survey of additional households for PMAY-G. While participating in the Griha Pravesh celebrations, Modi visited Sabar Sahi slum in Bhubaneswar where he interacted with the beneficiaries. The PM inaugurated the homes of 20 beneficiaries under the PMAY there. Accompanied by Odisha Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, the PM visited the home of Antaryami Nayak, a beneficiary of the housing scheme, and savoured the traditional Odia sweet dish, 'kheeri'

Will probe cause of rail accidents, conspiracy will not last long: Shah

Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said any conspiracy to cause railway accidents will not last long and the government will soon unveil an initiative for the protection of the 1.10 lakh km railway network across the country. The home minister's remarks came in the wake of a series of railway accidents, most of which appeared to be attempts at sabotage as obstructions were placed on the railway tracks. Addressing a press conference to mark 100 days of the third tenure of the BJP-led NDA government, Shah said he had discussed the issue of railway safety with Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw over the last two days. "As far as accidents are concerned, we will investigate the root cause of this. Whatever the reason, the government is committed to addressing the issue. If this is a conspiracy, it will not last long. If there are gaps, they will be plugged," Shah said with Vaishnaw by his side. Shah said the CBI, NIA, Railway Police and the Home Ministry were preparing a scheme for the

PM to launch Subhadra Yojana, railway, highway projects in Odisha today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to launch the Odisha government's flagship women-centric initiative, Subhadra Yojana, besides other railway and national highway projects during his visit to the eastern state on Tuesday. PM Modi's visit to Odisha on his 74th birthday would be the first after he attended the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi on June 12. He is scheduled to reach Biju Patnaik International Airport here around 10.50 am, officials said. Under Subhadra Yojna, named after Goddess Subhadra, the sister of Lord Balabhadra and Lord Jagannath, all eligible women between the age of 21-60 years would receive Rs 50,000 over a period of five years between 2024-25 and 2028-29. An amount of Rs 10,000 per annum would be credited in two installments directly to their accounts. The initiative is expected to cover more than 1 crore women. PM Modi would initiate the fund transfer into the bank accounts of more than 10 lakh women during the day, the offic

Railways plans track upgrades, safety boost with outsourcing, simulators

The Indian Railways has developed a new safety plan that includes training loco pilots using simulators and outsourcing parts of maintenance operations

Govt to launch super app streamlining railway services: Ashwini Vaishnaw

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that more than 5,300 km of railway tracks were laid in 2023, a distance comparable to Switzerland's entire rail network

India's first Vande Metro between Bhuj, Ahmedabad to transform travel: Rlys

India's first Vande Metro, which will be virtually flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in Gujarat is poised to transform inter-city travel with its advanced medium-distance capabilities, the Railway Ministry said. While PM Modi will be in Ahmedabad, the train will start from Bhuj and reach Ahmedabad covering 359 km of distance in 5.45 hours. For passengers, its regular service will start from September 17 from Ahmedabad and the total journey will cost Rs 455. While the other metros cover only short distances, Vande Metro trains will connect cities from the heart of the city to the peripheral cities," the ministry said. It added that the word metro' gives an impression of urban landscape, however, Vande Metro was conceptualised by incorporating numerous advancements. Giving a comprehensive overview of the Vande Metro and other Metros being operated in the country, the ministry said, "Vande Metro operates at a maximum speed of 110 km/h, offering faster acceleration

Urgent need of staff to manage assets, train ops: Railway Board Chairman

There is an urgent requirement for additional manpower to maintain the railways' ever-increasing assets and safe train operations, Board Chairman Satish Kumar has said, urging the Finance Ministry to give the board the power to create non-gazetted posts in safety and essential categories. In a letter to Manoj Govil, the Secretary (Expenditure) in the Finance Ministry, Kumar said the Railways has over the last few years witnessed a significant increase in capital expenditure -- from Rs 1.48 lakh crores in 2019-20 to 2.62 lakh crores in 2023-24. "This capital expenditure is resulting in significant increase in assets for which adequate manpower is required for Reliable and Safe Train Operation," Kumar said. "These assets will further increase in coming years considering Railways target of Mission 3,000 MT (by 2030) from current level of 1,610 MT," he said. Kumar argued that for achieving this objective, more trains will have to be run which requires increased manpower for both train

Got 35,000 MT rails, track construction machinery for bullet trains: NHSRCL

The National High Speed Rail Corporation Limited (NHSRCL) on Friday said it has received more than 35,000 MT of rails and four sets of track construction machinery for the Ahmedabad-Mumbai bullet train project. The process of flash-butt welding of rails to form 200-meter-long panels has started on the viaduct as track construction is underway near Surat and Anand cities in Gujarat, the NHSRCL said in a release. The 508 km high-speed corridor is being constructed between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. The bullet train project will have a J-Slab track system based on the Japanese Shinkansen track system. This is the first time the system will be used in India, it said. The process of track installation is mechanised with cutting-edge machinery, specially designed and manufactured as per Japanese specifications, it was stated. As per the release, the NHSRCL has received more than 35,000 MT of rails and four sets of track construction machinery for the project. The fleet of machines includes

Eastern Railway 2024: Application for 3115 posts to begin from September 24

Eastern Railway is inviting applications for the Apprenticeship positions through its Railway Recruitment Cell. Candidates who meet the requirements can apply online at rrcer.org

Waqf committee meetings become site of contesting claims from govt bodies

The Joint Committee of Parliament meetings on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill have turned out to be a battleground for contesting claims, as several government bodies have accused Waqf boards in the country of laying ownership on properties belonging to them and drawn sharp counterclaims. Opposition members in the committee have claimed that a large number of Waqf properties have been in fact in "unauthorised" possession of government bodies, including the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). AIMIM's Asaduddin Owaisi, one of the more vocal and articulate opposition voices in the meetings, submitted a list of 172 Waqf properties in Delhi alone, which, he said, were in the unauthorised possession of the ASI, sources said. His submission to the committee's chairperson and BJP member Jagdambika Pal came following the country's premier archaeology body's assertion that over 120 of its protected monuments are claimed by different Waqf boards. The ASI also accused them of unauthorised ...

Trackman's quick action prevents major train disaster on Konkan Railway

In a remarkable display of alertness and bravery, trackman Mahadeva averted a major train accident on the Konkan Railway line between Kumta and Honnavar. According to railway officials, the incident occurred at around 4.50 am on Friday when Mahadeva, on routine duty, noticed an incomplete welding of the track joint in the area. At the time, the Thiruvananthapuram-Delhi Rajdhani Express was approaching this route. Sensing imminent danger, Mahadeva quickly contacted the Kumta station to stop the train. However, the express had already left the station and was speeding toward the hazardous section. Undeterred, Mahadeva made a frantic attempt to contact the loco pilot directly, but communication could not be established. With just minutes to act, he made a split-second decision. He sprinted along the tracks, covering half a kilometre in just five minutes. In the nick of time, he flagged down the train and brought it to a halt, avoiding a potential disaster, the officials said. Once th

Vaishnaw holds discussions on cooperation in railways, IT during Japan tour

Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw discussed further enhancing cooperation with Japan in the field of railways, innovation in the digital landscape and focusing on futuristic technological advancements during his visit to Tokyo. Vaishnaw, who holds the portfolios of railways, information and broadcasting, and information technology and electronics, held productive discussions with Tetsuo Saito, Japan's minister of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism on enhancing India-Japan cooperation. Vaishnaw said he discussed enhancing railway cooperation, promoting economic growth and deepening cultural ties with Saito. The meeting with Saito took place on Thursday. "Met with Mr. Tadashi Maeda, MD & Chairman of Japan Bank for International Cooperation, to discuss progress under the India-Japan strategic partnership. Exchanged views on key areas of cooperation and future opportunities," he posted on X on Friday. Vaishnaw also met Taro Kono, the minister for digital transformation of ...

Officers eligible for DRM should be below 52 years of age: Railway Board

The Railway Board has approved fresh guidelines for the posting of divisional railway managers for its 68 rail divisions, according to which officers being considered for short-listing as DRMs should be less than 52 years of age among other eligibility criteria. The guidelines, released on September 3, 2024, have introduced some new eligibility criteria, including that the officers should have minimum 15 years in Railways/Railway PSUs. However, it does not offer any age relaxation which has disappointed a section of senior railway officials and experts. "Officers being considered for short-listing as DRMs should be less than 52 years of age as on 1st January of the vacancy year for which the short list is being made," the guideline said, merely reiterating the previous position. "I believe restricting the posting of DRM with age is not a right decision. A relaxation was expected but it didn't happen," a senior railway official earlier posted as DRM said. He added, "It will demotiv