‘70% of Indian Railways’ total passenger train services currently operational’

Railway Board Chairman and CEO Suneet Sharma on Friday stated 70% of the Indian Railways’ total passenger train services had been currently operational, and that no State had but requested the Railways to cease services amid day by day document spikes in COVID-19 instances within the nation.

“I assure you that there is no dearth of services, the situation is quite normal…” Mr. Sharma stated, replying to a question throughout a press convention.

The Indian Railways is currently working 1,490 mail and categorical trains, 5,397 suburban train services, and 947 passenger trains, together with MEMU (mainline electrical a number of unit), DMU (diesel a number of unit) and EMU (electrical a number of unit).

“As of now, no State government has asked us to stop trains. However, whenever there are concerns, the State governments have discussed the issues with us, and where there are containment zones, they are doing random tests and checks,” the Chairman stated.

He added that the Railways had put up all particulars on the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) web site, and passengers are supplied info on whether or not they should bear exams or carry a COVID-19-negative certificates.

Asked about COVID-19 isolation rail coaches, Mr. Sharma stated, “We have 4,000 isolation coaches for COVID-19 at different locations across the country. We have received a demand from Nandurbar in Maharashtra for over 100 coaches and 20 isolation coaches have been provided so far.”

Reiterating that Railways is preserving a detailed watch on all stations in Mumbai, Gujarat, Karnataka and wherever the demand is excessive, Zonal General Managers had been authorised to function extra trains, Mr. Sharma stated, and to clear the additional rush throughout the nation, the Railways was working 140 extra trains.

These 140 particular trains would make 483 journeys in April and May. The Central Railway is working 85 such services, which can full 284 journeys; the Western Railway is working 28 trains for 152 journeys; the Northern Railway is working 15 particular trains for 19 journeys; the East Central Railway is working two particular trains for 4 journeys; the North Eastern Railway is working 9 trains for 14 journeys; and the North Central Railway is working one train for 10 journeys.

“The trains are for destinations having high demand, like Gorakhpur, Patna, Darbhanga, Varanasi, Guwahati, Manduadih, Barauni, Prayagraj, Bokaro, Ranchi, Lucknow, Kolkatta, Bhagalpur,” he added.