RailEnquiry

Srinagar : The Railway authorities have increased the number of coaches to cater to the heavy rush of commuters that was being witnessed after the train from Baramulla in north Kashmir was connected to Banihal in Ramban district of Jammu region.Out of three DMU (diesel multiple unit) trains that make 14 trips every day between Baramulla and Banihal, the Railways added eight new coaches to two trains.“We have added eight new coaches- four each to two trains- to cater to the heavy rush. The two trains plying in Kashmir have now got 12 coaches instead of eight to ferry passengers,” said a senior official of the Northern Railways. “These coaches were added recently and it has helped us to a large extent as the trains were frequently being stopped at various stations in Kashmir for lack of space,” he added.After the train service was connected to Banihal in June this year, many passengers used to travel on rooftops to reach their destinations as they were not able to find any space in the train. The Railways and civil authorities in Kashmir were worried over the rooftop riding.After the capacity of the trains was increased earlier this month, the Railways say nearly 15,000 commuters travel daily in the trains. Prior to the railway service upto Banihal, 9,000 commuters used to travel every day in the trains.The trains started chugging for the first time in Kashmir on October 11, 2008, and the services have been extended in three phases. The train in Kashmir has become the most popular mode of commuting after the rail link was extended up to Banihal.