Page 4 - Trains

Passenger trains in India are getting slower, and your trips longer

The biggest drop in speed was recorded in Northern Railway, where trains slowed by 4.9 kmph as compared to last year

Railways ply 1,700 special trains to ease Diwali, Chhath festival rush

In a bid to ease travel during the festival season, the Railways have pressed into service 1,700 special trains, making available 26 lakh additional berths. A Railways official said these additional services are being operated to ease the heavy rush of passengers on account of Diwali and Chhath Puja. "Approximately 26 lakh extra berths have been added for the convenience of passengers," the official said. He said these are extra berths in addition to those available on regular trains across the network. The demand for train reservations is so high that it is becoming difficult for the people planning to head home for the festivities to get a reserved berth.

RapidX named as Namo Bharat, PM Modi launches rail service: All details

The Namo Bharat trains will include six coaches, including one premium coach with separate platform entry and exit points. Today, a 17-km stretch of the route will be inaugurated by PM Modi

New regional rapid transit system trains to be known as 'Namo Bharat'

Trains of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS), to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, will be known as 'Namo Bharat', official sources said. The 17-km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor is slated to be opened for passengers on October 21, a day after its inauguration. This section between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot has five stations -- Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. The foundation stone for the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut corridor was laid by Prime Minister Modi on March 8, 2019. In line with his vision to transform regional connectivity in the country through construction of new world-class transport infrastructure, the RRTS project is being developed, the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had said in a statement on Wednesday. The RRTS is a new rail-based, semi-high-speed, high-frequency commuter transit system with a design speed of 180 kmph. It is a "transformational" regional development initiative, which is ..

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

Rains continue to lash Kerala, orange alert in 4 districts; trains delayed

After a brief lull in the morning, rains continued to lash Kerala on Monday, with the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) issuing an orange alert in four districts of the state. The IMD issued an orange alert in the districts of Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki for the day. It also issued a yellow alert in eight districts of the state. An orange alert means that very heavy rainfall of 11 cm to 20 cm is likely, and a yellow alert means there could be heavy rainfall of between 6 and 11 cm. The IMD also predicted that thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and gusty winds are likely to occur at one or two places in Thiruvananthapuram, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod districts of the state. Earlier in the day, the IMD said there were cyclonic circulations over coastal Tamil Nadu and its neighbourhoods as well as over the Lakshadweep area, adjoining the Southeast Arabian sea and the Kerala coast. Under their influence, light to modera

Fire guts five coaches of train in Ahmednagar district, no casualties

Five coaches of a diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) passenger train were gutted in a fire that broke out near Narayandoh station in Maharashtra's Ahmednagar district on Monday afternoon, but no casualties were reported, Railway officials said. The fire incident took place when the train (No. 01402) was heading to Ahmednagar in western Maharashtra from Ashti station in Beed district in the central region of the state, but its cause was not immediately known, they said. Dr Shivraj Manaspure, Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO), Central Railway, told PTI that no passenger was injured in the blaze, which started at around 3 pm, as all of them alighted safely from the train before the fire spread. "All train passengers got down safely before the fire spread," he stated. The flames engulfed the guard-side brake van and four coaches adjacent to it, said the CPRO. Manaspure said fire engines from Ahmednagar, located around 250km from Mumbai, were immediately called and the flames dou

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

3,000 suburban train services to be hit in Mumbai amid 29-day block

At least 3,100 suburban services and 260 long-distance trains will be fully or partially cancelled amid the 29-day block on the Western Railway in Mumbai, an official said on Tuesday. The block, which began on October 7, has been put in place for the construction of the sixth line between Khar and Goregaon railway stations, he said. As per a release, around 2,700 suburban services will be cancelled and about 400 services will be partially disrupted or short-terminated from October 20 onwards. At least 60 cancellations and 200 partial cancellations or short terminations of long-distance trains are expected during the block period. "Despite the huge quantum of work involved, the block has been meticulously planned to ensure minimum disruption of rail traffic and inconvenience to passengers, Sumit Thakur, chief public relations officer of Western Railway, said. He further said that the block has been planned so that there is no cancellation of trains in the initial 10 to 13 days. Th

PM Modi to flag off 9 Vande Bharat Express trains in 11 states today

These Vande Bharat trains will be the fastest trains along the routes of their operation and will help save considerable time for the passengers

PM Modi to launch 9 new Vande Bharat trains, check list and routes below

PM Modi will virtually inaugurate nine new Vande Bharat Express trains on September 24. With this new addition, the total number of Vande Bharat trains in India will reach 34

Improve trains' punctuality during Parl session: Railway Board to all zones

The Railway Board has sent an email to all its zones asking them to monitor and improve the punctuality of all mail/express trains" in view of the five-day Parliament session starting from Monday. An email from the principal executive director (coaching), Railway Board to general managers and other senior officers engaged in the safe rail operations has stressed the need to address all issues that impact the punctuality of trains. According to sources in the Railways, the Board has issued this advisory as several members of Parliament (MPs) travel by train and they have to attend the special session from September 18 to September 22. Asset failures to be monitored and speedy rectification of asset failures to be ensured to minimize the impact on punctuality. Trains to be run at the maximum permissible speed to make up the lost time due to failures and other causes, the email said. It added, Excess engineering speed restriction affecting punctuality to be attended immediately and ..

Madurai train fire: Tour agent booked for illegal carriage of gas cylinder

A criminal case has been registered against a tour operator by the Government Railway Police (GRP) for alleged illegal carriage of cooking gas cylinder in connection with the Madurai train fire that left 9 persons dead. "With respect to 'illegal smuggling' of cooking gas cylinder in the tourist coach by the tour operator, a criminal case has been registered by GRP under various sections of IPC and Railways Act," a Southern Railway release said. Southern Railway in association with IRCTC shall also make air travel arrangements for the return of surviving passengers to Lucknow, it said. "Southern Railway has made arrangements for transport of bodies of the deceased by air to Lucknow by duly following all the necessary medical and legal formalities," it added. At least nine pilgrims bound for Rameswaram in Tamil Nadu met with a tragic end on Saturday when a fire broke out inside a stationary train compartment at the railway station here in the small hours of Saturday. The victims ...

NE will have its 1st international cross-border connectivity soon: Railways

Sabyasachi De said that for the overall development of railway infrastructure in the Northeastern region, for the first time, an amount of Rs. 1.20 lakh crore has been earmarked

Railway calls for speedy disposal of transfer requests on spouse ground

The Railway Board has directed the zonal railways to expeditiously dispose of pending requests of employees for transfer to the station or place of posting of their respective spouses. The communication to the principal chief personnel officers of 15 zones on August 17 came after the board received a number of representations from railway employees and their associations about delays or denial on their spouse ground transfer requests despite having a laid down policy. "It is requested that all such pending requests may be examined and disposed of in terms of laid down policy, the letter stated, adding that the respective zones should apprise the board a summary of all pending and cleared requests along with reasons for the delay. The board is of the view that after the digitisation process of Human Resource Management System (HRMS), such requests should not be pending for long. On August 20 last year, the board issued a similar direction asking for "information pertaining to dispos

1,300 railway stations being modernised under Amrit Bharat scheme: Vaishnaw

Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Monday said 1,300 railway stations, including Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh, are being redeveloped and modernised under the 'Amrit Bharat Station Scheme'. He was speaking to reporters after taking stock of the construction work at Gwalior station. A total of 1,300 railway stations are being redeveloped and modernised, and as part of this, Rs 500 crore are being invested in Gwalior station. The work of converting the narrow gauge line into broad gauge is going on at a brisk pace, the Railway Minister said. The Commission of Railway Safety (CRS) will soon inspect the broad gauging work between Gwalior and Sumavali, he said. The work at Gwalior station has been undertaken to keep in mind the rich heritage of the place, he said. Two more platforms will be added to the railway station. It will come up with beautiful designs and modern amenities, Vaishnaw said. He assured that the heritage preservation aspect will be taken care of during the gauge conve

Several trains stuck as locals block tracks at Murarai station in Birbhum

Train services were affected as locals blocked the railway tracks at Murarai station in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Sunday morning, officials said. The blockade disrupted services on the Eastern Railway's Sahebganj line with several long-distance trains, including the Howrah-New Jalpaiguri Vande Bharat Express, stuck, they said. Locals blocked the tracks around 7.30 am, demanding stoppage of express trains at the Murarai station. Efforts were on to persuade the agitators to lift the blockade and resume services at the earliest, officials said.

Over 67,000 trains cancelled in South East Central Zone in 3 years: RTI

Indian Railways cancelled 32,757 trains in 2020, suspended the operations of 32,151 trains in 2021, called off 2,474 trains in 2022, and postponed 208 trains in April 2023

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Cyclone: Railway short-terminates 56 trains heading to coastal Gujarat

As powerful cyclone Biparjoy' moves closer to the Gujarat coast, the Western Railway has short-terminated more than 50 trains heading to coastal areas of the state and is considering cancellation of several trains over the next three days, a release said. The WR is taking various measures including setting up disaster management rooms, help desks, and keeping relief trains ready, the release said on Monday. The wind speed is being monitored at five locations in Bhavnagar division, at eight sites in Rajkot and at three spots in Ahmedabad division on an hourly basis and station masters have been instructed to regulate or stop trains when the wind velocity exceeds 50 kmph, as per the release. According to IMD, Biparjoy' is likely to make landfall near the Jakhau port in Kutch district on Thursday afternoon as a very severe cyclonic storm' with maximum wind speed reaching up to 150 kilometres per hour. As many as 56 trains heading to Gandhidham, Veraval, Okha, Porbandar in coastal Guja