Page 23 - Railways

Andhra accident: PM condoles loss of lives, announces Rs 2 lakh ex-gratia

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condoled the loss of lives in the train accident in Vizianagaram district of Andhra Pradesh and spoke to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to take stock of the situation. At least eight persons died and around 20 were injured in the accident involving two trains, according to officials. The prime minister has announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh from the PMNRF for the next of kin of each deceased due to the train derailment between Alamanda and Kantakapalle section. The injured would be given Rs 50,000, the Prime Minister's Office posted on X. "PM Narendra Modi spoke to Railway Minister Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw and took stock of the situation in the wake of the unfortunate train derailment...," the PMO said. Authorities are providing all possible assistance to those affected, it said. "The prime minister extends condolences to the bereaved families and prays that the injured recover soon," the PMO said.

Andhra accident likely due to human error, overshooting of signal: ECoR

East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Sunday said a human error could have resulted in the collision of two trains in Andhra Pradesh's Vizianagaram district. At least eight people were killed and 20 others injured in the collision of the Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train with the Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger Special this evening, according to officials. Likely reason: Human error. Overshooting of the signal by Visakhapatnam- Rayagada passenger train, ECoR CPRO Biswajit Sahoo told reporters here. While explaining the term overshooting, the CPRO said it occurs when a train, instead of stopping at a red signal, moves on. Two coaches of the Visakhapatnam-Palasa Passenger train from the rear and the loco of Visakhapatnam-Rayagada Passenger were derailed as a result of the accident, the railway official said, adding that rescue operations are underway. Accident relief trains and other rescue equipment have been engaged and helpline numbers have been issued, he said. The CPRO said around

AP train accident: PM Modi calls Ashwini Vaishnaw, takes stock of situation

At least six people died and 18 were injured when coaches derailed after Visakhapatnam-Ragada passenger train hit a Visakhapatnam-Ragada train

6 dead, 25 injured in train accident in Vizianagaram district of Andhra

It is suspected that some deaths have occurred in the accident as well, an official said but could not immediately confirm the information

Centre looks to meet freight corridor cost escalation from its own pockets

The executive added that the final cost structure will be ratified when the Union Cabinet approves the revised cost estimate

Western Railway cancels 2525 train services for a week, here's why

Western Railway (WR) has cancelled 2525 train services between October 26 to November 6, 2023, as an 8.8 km addition line between Khar and Goregaon station is under construction

Railway Board announces 4% hike in dearness allowance for employees

The Railway Board has revised the dearness allowance for its employees from 42 per cent to 46 per cent of the basic pay effective from July 1, 2023. The Board circulated a written communication dated October 23, 2023, to the General Managers and Chief Administrative Officers of All India Railways and Production Units stating, "...the President is pleased to decide that the Dearness Allowance payable to Railway Employees shall be enhanced from the existing rate of 42% to 46% of the Basic Pay with effect from 1st July, 2023." It defined the 'Basic Pay' as the pay drawn as per 7th CPC recommendation accepted by the government, "but doesn't include any other time of pay like special pay etc." The Board's announcement comes five days after the Union Cabinet approved an around Rs 15,000 cr bonus, that included a 4 per cent hike in DA for government employees. The employees will get the enhanced DA with arrears from July in their next salary. Railway employee unions welcomed the announce

Namo Bharat ridership to cross 10,000-mark on inaugural day: NCRTC

Services on a priority section of India's first Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) corridor began on Saturday and the ridership is expected to cross the 10,000-mark on day one, a senior official of the NCRTC said. The much-anticipated commencement of commercial operations on the 17-km section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS corridor began amid excitement among passengers. The inaugural 'Namo Bharat' train journey kicked off at 6 am, and the services received an "overwhelming response" from commuters, some of whom had arrived as early as 4.30 am, eager to be a part of this historic journey, even from nearby areas like Muradnagar and from far-off areas in Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, a senior official of the NCRTC said. Vinay Kumar Singh, Managing Director of National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC) also took a ride on the inaugural day of the 'Namo Bharat' train services. He welcomed the first set of passengers of India's first 'Namo Bharat' train in the morning, and a

Namo Bharat: PM Modi flags off India's first regional rapid transit system

17-km stretch connects Sahibabad and Duhai Depot

CCTV cameras, emergency door-opening mechanism: RAPIDX trains features

CCTV cameras, an emergency door-opening mechanism and a button to communicate with a train operator are among the safety features in trains that will ply on the soon-to-open Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor. A media preview of the RAPIDX trains was held on Wednesday ahead of the inauguration of the 17-km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor. The under-construction Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) Corridor, being built for a semi-high-speed regional rail service named 'RAPIDX' by the National Capital Region Transport Corporation (NCRTC), is a joint venture company of the Centre with the governments of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. These trains are equipped with several safety features besides passenger amenities such as overhead luggage racks, Wi-Fi, and a mobile and laptop charging outlet at every seat. Every coach has about six CCTV cameras, a senior official said, adding, the safety of passengers is a priority on this corridor. Oth

Passenger opens fire inside Sealdah-Rajdhani Express in Jharkhand, arrested

A 41-year-old man allegedly opened fire inside the Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express over an argument with a coach attendant for a seat, a railway official said on Friday. There was no report of any casualty in the incident. The accused, a retired Army personnel, has been arrested following the act that took place around 9.45 pm on Thursday inside the B-7 coach between Dhanbad and Gomoh stations under the Dhanbad division of East Central Railway (ECR), he said. The man, identified as Harvinder Singh, is being interrogated. Prima facie, it appears that he was in an inebriated state when he opened fire, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Dhanbad rail division), Amresh Kumar, told PTI. Singh had a ticket for the Howrah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express, but he boarded the Sealdah-New Delhi Rajdhani Express on Thursday evening at Dhanbad railway station by mistake, a Railway Protection Force (RPF) official said. After he boarded the train, Singh had an altercation with the coach attendan

Four killed and 30 injured in train crash in Bihar, says Railways

Second major rail accident in 4 months, Commissioner of Railway Safety to conduct probe

Bihar train crash: Fault in tracks likely cause, suggests initial report

Citing a preliminary investigation report, news agency PTI reported that fault in tracks was the possible cause of derailment of the Delhi-Kamakhya North East Express

Railway Board examining demand for giving one-time option to women

The Railway Board is examining the demand for giving a one-time option to women drivers and track maintainers to change their job category, and has asked its zones to share the numbers of such employees and pending applications. The board, in a communication to all railway zones on October 4, said the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) had requested for giving women track maintainers and running staff a one-time option to change their job category. "The matter is under examination in board's office and in this regards all zonal railways are requested to provide the number of female track maintainers and ALPs...and the number of requests pending as on date from female track maintainers or female running staff or female staff working in other categories for change of their assigned categories," the board's communication, accessed by PTI, read. Assistant train drivers are also known as assistant loco pilots (ALPs). Women track maintainers and ALPs seek to change their job

Agile policy helped increase freight earnings by Rs 2,706 cr: Railways

The Indian Railways achieved freight loading of 758.2 MT between April and September as against the 736.68 MT recorded in the corresponding period last year, which is an improvement of 21.52 MT. "Railways have earned Rs 81,697 crore against Rs 78,991 crore over the last year, which is an improvement of approximately Rs 2,706 crore as compared to the same period of the last year," the railway ministry said in a statement. "During the month of September 2023, originating freight loading of 123.53 MT has been achieved against loading of 115.8 MT in September 2022, which is an improvement of approximately 6.67 per cent over the last year," it added. The increase in freight loading has translated into an increase in the railways' revenue as it achieved freight revenue of Rs 12,956.95 crore in September 2023 as against the Rs 12,332.7 crore freight earnings in September 2022, thereby showing an improvement of about 5.06 per cent. "Indian Railways achieved loading of 59.7 MT in coal, 14.2

Railways moving towards 100% electrification in few months: PM Modi

The Indian Railways is moving forward with the aim of 100 per cent electrification of all rail lines in the next few months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Tuesday. He was speaking after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 8,000 crore at Nizamabad in Telangana. "Indian Railways is moving forward with the aim of 100 per cent electrification of all rail lines in the next few months," Modi said. Among others, Modi inaugurated the first 800 MW unit of phase 1 of the Telangana Super Thermal Power Project of the NTPC. "Today in Peddapalli district, NTPC's super thermal power plant's first unit was dedicated to the nation. Very soon its second unit will also be operational. After the first and second phases are completed, the plant's installed capacity becomes 4.000 MW," Modi said. "I am happy to note that this plant is the most modern plant of NTPC in the whole country," Modi further said. Telangana will be immense

PM Gatishakti: 3 upcoming airports on fast track to get rail connectivity

Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw have been coordinating in recent months on these projects

Udaipur-Jaipur Vande Bharat Express stopped after noticing ballast on track

According to Captain Shashi Kiran CPRO-North Western Railway, the stoppage was due to the placing of some ballast on the track and of two rods, of one foot each, in the joggle plate of the track

Over 214,000 participated in 1st 14 days of cleanliness drive: Railways

The Indian Railways on Friday said more than 2.14 lakh people participated in 1,934 activities with man hours of 6,62,990 in the first 14 days of the "Swachhata Hi Sewa" (SHS) cleanliness drive. The fortnight-long campaign was launched on September 15 by the chairperson and CEO of the Railway Board, who administered a cleanliness pledge to all the railway employees at the Rail Bhawan here. The participants in the campaign are railway employees, passengers and other stakeholders. The campaign aims at fostering a much greener and more eco-friendly railway system. "Indian Railways, with its extensive nationwide network, plays a vital role in the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan," the railway ministry said in a statement. This year, the railway ministry has become a part of the joint SHS campaign launched by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and Ministry of Jal Shakti. "Activities of SHS are integrated with day-to-day activities of Swachhata Pakhwada. The theme for Swachhata Hi Sewa camp

150,000 dedicate 500,000 hours in 9 days for 'Swachhata Hi Seva': Railways

More than 1.5 lakh individuals participated in the first nine days of the 'Swachhata Hi Seva' campaign, dedicating about five lakh man-hours to the exercise since it was launched on September 15, the railway ministry said on Tuesday. The railways runs a cleanliness campaign from September 15 to 30 every year for a cleaner and more sanitised railway system. This year there is a special emphasis on the cleanliness of railway tracks at stations, approaches to major stations, and the elimination of plastic waste from railway premises. "It is a multifaceted approach to ensure that every nook and cranny of the railway network adheres to the principles of cleanliness and sustainability," the ministry said. According to the ministry, the encouraging numbers of people's participation reflects the deep-rooted sense of responsibility and ownership that the citizens have taken towards making the railways cleaner and more hygienic.