RailEnquiry

The Central Railway authorities have rejected a plea to revive the afternoon train that was introduced for a short period from Nashik to Mumbai, as per a TOI report. In a letter received by a Rail Parishad, a Nashik-based NGO, the Railway authorities have said that the service would not be revived as it did not find many takers when introduced. The NGO has claimed that the occupancy in the train was almost 60 per cent in the reserved and air-conditioned coaches and hence it could be revived.

"The train 1035 / 1036 started from May 16, 2012 to June 15, 2012 proved to be a hit with the passengers commuting between Mumbai and Nashik as there were no trains at this time of the day. We have demanded that the train be started again," said Bipin Gandhi, President of Rail Parishad.

Gandhi said that the Railways had turned down the request saying it was not feasible. "The Railways had experimented by starting a train between Mumbai CST and Nashik Road, with the rake of 12116 / 12115 Siddheshwar Express but due to poor patronisation Railway Board has instructed to discontinue the service," Railway officials said.

According to Gandhi, the Railways had not given any publicity about starting the train between the two cities, although on an experimental-basis, and at the same time it operated sleeper coach instead of chair cars. “When one wants to do business, publicity should be adequate. Besides, it was injustice on the part of passengers who were forced to buy sleeper coach ticket, instead of an ordinary day ticket for a short distance. Despite, these factors going, the train garnered almost 80 per cent occupancy,” Gandhi said.

Railway officials in Nashik, on the condition of anonymity, also pointed out that despite no publicity the train had crossed the criteria of being patronised by the passengers.