ProUI

With the life span of railway tracks coming down sharply over the years due to increasing passenger-freight operations, higher axle loads on dense traffic routes and corrosion, Southern Railway has set a rail renewal target of 72 kilometres this fiscal as a key component of its measures to maintain safety.

Going by standard estimates, a 60-kg rail segment with a traffic density projection of 800 Gross Million Tonnes (GMT) is about 15 years, but this conventional calculus is being constantly revised, as many rail segments are coming up for renewal in less than half that time, Railway officials said.

With a route length of 5,000 kilometres, Southern Railway is the fifth largest rail network among the 17 zonal railways in Indian Railways network. It runs about 434 suburban trains and 742 non-suburban trains and transports around 2.4 million passengers on an average every day. On the freight front, the originating freight loading from April to July this year was 14.81 million tonnes, the 14 per cent increase over last year being the best-ever loading for the first four months of any year in Southern Railway’s recorded history.

“The upkeep of the vast rail network involves a well-drawn out daily, monthly and periodic maintenance schedule involving men and machines,” said S. Anantharaman, Chief Safety Officer, Southern Railway.

For instance, a track recording car to detect defects, twists or faulty alignment is deployed once every four months in Grade A segments (based on a set of wear-and-tear parameters), once in six months for Grade B sections and once a year for other segments. The data is analysed to arrive at a Track Geometry Index (TGI) value that determines the course of action.

Ultrasonic Flaw Detectors (USFD) to spot weld failures, Oscillation Monitoring Systems to measure vertical and lateral displacement from a normal axis of coaches moving across a particular rail section and tight tamping to bind together caked up ballast are also part of standard procedure, officials said.

Apart from machines, the Railways also deploys gangmen and keymen to physically inspect every bit of the 5,000-km route length.  Weld failure is a common cause of derailment; corrosion a threat to health of tracks.  Hence these gangmen and keymen shall monitor the tracks on daily basis.

In the four months of this fiscal, yard derailments have halved from 22 in the same period last year, while mainline accidents dropped from eight to just one.

One of the most common causes for derailments is weld failure. In-house studies in the Railways estimate that rail and weld failures currently account for over 60 per cent of engineering-related mishaps – a sharp rise from the 25 per cent about four years ago.

Commissioner of Railway Safety S. K. Mittal’s preliminary report on the derailment of Muzaffarpur-Yesvantpur Express near Arakkonam on April 10 too has upheld rail weld failure as the cause of the accident that killed one person.

The other significant threat to the health of tracks is coming from corrosion due to exposure to coastal atmosphere or contact with toilet waste. It is estimated that corrosion causes fracture of an estimated 20 per cent of rail lines.

“The Chennai-Gudur and Chennai-Villupuram lines are among the worst affected lines due to corrosion,” said a track engineering official.

Though the Railways has started using corrosion-resistant alloy-rails to beat the problem, the proportion of these rail segments is minuscule with regard to the magnitude of the problem.

The Southern Railway has extended its ties with leading private medical care providers to set up free medical assistance centres in its railway stations. Though such kind of medical assistance centres were set up in the past, those had become dysfunctional for some time now. Those centres have now been renewed by Railways in partnership with private hospitals.

The Southern Railway operates 434 suburban trains and 742 non-suburban trains every day. On an average, 2.4 million passengers travel in these trains in a day. With a view to benefiting the passengers, the free medical assistance centres will be set up in all railway stations.

“Medical assistance centers, as of now, are set up in Chennai Central, Egmore and Tambaram railway stations. In the first two stations, the medical assistance centers are provided by SRM Hospitals and in Tambaram station, Global Hospitals set up the center,” said an official.

These emergency medical care centers provide facilities such as first aid, ambulance, availability of medicines, medical equipments, wheel chairs and stretchers.

These centers also have qualified medical staffs and doctors. The centers will also conduct periodical health camps and medical awareness programs, the official added.

“All the centres will run on 24/7. Besides Chennai, we will be setting up medical assistance centers in Salem Junction with the help of Vinayaka Mission Hospital, Salem,” the railway officials confirmed.

Mangalore: Following the tracks of the case of seven passengers going sick due to food poisoning last week in Mangalore-Kasargod sector aboard Ajmer-Ernakulum Marusagar Express, investigators of the Railway Quality Control cell today unearthed a scam aboard yet another long distance train-Nizammuddin-Thiruvananthapuram express of serving stale and unedible food on the train.

Five men from the railway service health inspectorate who boarded the train in Kundapur found the packaged food to have surpassed their expiry dates, while dishes that were stored in the pantry car for distribution to the passengers were sub-standard.

A passenger who consumed the food found the dal, rice and a non-vegetarian item stale. When the train had halted at Mangalore Junction (formerly Kankanady) for more than 20 minutes, the inspectors collected samples of few food items from the pantry car and details about the supplier.

They said they will report it to the Southern Railway divisional office at Palghat. The Palghat division railway officials said some of the items served on the trains were stale and some were prepared by the railway pantry car cooks.

NAGPUR: Though the Planning Commission is reconsidering the Rs.300-crore third railway line project between Nagpur and Wardha, the Nagpur Central Railway has opposed any such move.

Plan panel officials, on the basis of maps, were reconsidering the third line for Rs.400-crore Nagpur-Nagbhid (106km) broad gauge project under South East Central Railway (SECR). It has been given green signal in the 2013 railway budget. The execution of project will facilitate transportation of thermal coal from nearest coal mines.

When asked, Divisional Railway Manager, Nagpur Division Brijesh Dixit said, “The third line is very much needed and we have sent our views to the Planning Commission. Railways have already allocated Rs 10-crore for the project.”

Sources said Central Railway’s 65% traffic is to east-west direction while 35% is to north-south. Plan panel thinks if broadening of Nagpur-Nagbhid line would ease east-west traffic, why spend Rs 300 crore on a new line.

“Even in this situation, we need an additional line between Wardha and Nagpur to ease congestion from Howrah to Mumbai,” said Dixit.

NAGPUR: Though the Planning Commission is reconsidering the Rs.300-crore third railway line project between Nagpur and Wardha, the Nagpur Central Railway has opposed any such move.

Plan panel officials, on the basis of maps, were reconsidering the third line for Rs.400-crore Nagpur-Nagbhid (106km) broad gauge project under South East Central Railway (SECR). It has been given green signal in the 2013 railway budget. The execution of project will facilitate transportation of thermal coal from nearest coal mines.

When asked, Divisional Railway Manager, Nagpur Division Brijesh Dixit said, “The third line is very much needed and we have sent our views to the Planning Commission. Railways have already allocated Rs 10-crore for the project.”

Sources said Central Railway’s 65% traffic is to east-west direction while 35% is to north-south. Plan panel thinks if broadening of Nagpur-Nagbhid line would ease east-west traffic, why spend Rs 300 crore on a new line.

“Even in this situation, we need an additional line between Wardha and Nagpur to ease congestion from Howrah to Mumbai,” said Dixit.

इलाहाबाद (ब्यूरो)। त्योहारी सीजन में यात्रियों की सुविधा के लिए रेलवे ने तीन स्पेशल ट्रेनें घोषित की हैं। दिल्ली के लिए घोषित यह ट्रेनें कोलकाता, सियालदह और भुवनेश्वर से चलेंगी और इलाहाबाद जंक्शन पर रुकते हुए जाएंगी। सीपीआरओ संदीप माथुर के मुताबिक गाड़ी संख्या 03125/03126 कोलकाता-आनंद विहार साप्ताहिक सुपरफास्ट ट्रेन कोलकाता से पांच अक्तूबर से नौ नवंबर तक प्रत्येक शनिवार को अपराह्न 13.45 बजे छूटेगी। बर्धमान, दुर्गापुर, आसनसोल, धनबाद, गोमो, गया, मुगलसराय होते हुए भोर में 4.35 बजे इलाहाबाद और अपराह्न 13.50 बजे आनंद विहार पहुंचेगी। वापसी में आनंद विहार से छह अक्तूबर से 10 नवंबर तक प्रत्येक रविवार की रात 19.50 बजे छूटकर भोर में 4.25 बजे इलाहाबाद और शाम 18.10 बजे कोलकाता पहुंचेगी। गाड़ी संख्या 03113/03114 सियालदह-नई दिल्ली साप्ताहिक सुपरफास्ट ट्रेन सियालदह से चार अक्तूबर से 29 नवंबर तक प्रत्येक शुक्रवार को रात 23.55 बजे छूटेगी। यह गाड़ी इलाहाबाद दोपहर 12.45 बजे और रात 22.30 बजे नई दिल्ली पहुंचेगी। वापसी में नई दिल्ली से पांच अक्तूबर से 30 नवंबर तक प्रत्येक शनिवार की रात 23.45 बजे छूटकर सुबह 9.10 बजे इलाहाबाद और रात 10.45 बजे सियालदह पहुंचेगी। तीसरी गाड़ी 22805/22806 भुवनेश्वर-नई दिल्ली साप्ताहिक सुपरफास्ट ट्रेन भुवनेश्वर से सात सितंबर से प्रत्येक शनिवार को दोपहर 12.45 बजे छूटेगी। यह गाड़ी तलचर रोड, अंगुल, संभलपुर सिटी, राउरकेला, मुरी, बोकारो सिटी, गोमो, कोडरमा, मुगलसराय के रास्ते अगले दिन सुबह 11.17 बजे इलाहाबाद और रात 20.50 बजे नई दिल्ली पहुंचेगी। वापसी में नई दिल्ली से नौ सितंबर से प्रत्येक सोमवार को सुबह सात बजे छूटकर शाम 16.17 बजे इलाहाबाद और अगली शाम 16.30 बजे भुवनेश्वर पहुंचाएगी।

BANGALORE: South-Western Railways will be constructing a world class railway station that can handle around five lakh passengers every day at Byappanahalli, shortly.The Railway Board recently approved the plan for the proposed railway station which will be the biggest in the zone. This station will have the capacity to handle around 100 pairs of trains.At present, Bangalore city railway station is the biggest railway station in the city and it can handle around 1.5 lakh passengers every day.The railway station will be designed to become a nodal point as it can be easily connected to all the major railway routes in the region. The concerned railway authorities and other state government agencies are making plans to provide easy access to the other modes of transport like BMTC and Metro for the passengers from the railway station. Provisions would be made to connect both Yeshwantpur and Bangalore City railway stations from the new railway station.At present both Yeshwantpur and Bangalore City railway stations are handling more passenger traffic than their capacity and it is not possible to introduce new trains from these stations.On an average, seven to eight new trains are introduced to the city every year and the new railway station is expected to meet the needs of the city for another 15 years.South-Western Railways Chief Administrative Officer S Vijay Kumar said, "For the first time in the history of the Indian Railways, this railway station will be constructed on publicprivate partnership basis. According to our estimates it will cost Rs 400 crore for laying the tracks and other railway works in the station. It may cost much more to provide passenger amenities and services.’’ Indian Railways is planning to develop 16 such railway stations in different parts of the country.

MANGALORE: Indian Railways has renumbered six trains including the Chennai Egmore - Mangalore Central - Chennai daily express. Train numbers 16107/16108 Chennai Egmore - Mangalore Central - Chennai (daily) express will be re-numbered as 16859/16860 with effect from September 1. Train numbers 16865/16866 Karaikal - Ernakulam - Karaikal (daily) express will be renumbered as 16187/16188 with effect from September 1.Train number 12653 Puducherry - Mangalore Central (weekly) express will be renumbered as train number 16857 with effect from September 7 and train number 12654 Manglore Central - Puducherry express will be renumbered as train 16858 with effect from September 8. Train numbers 16857/16858 will run via Coimbatore Junction and will not stop at Podanur. Extension of these trains to Puducherry from and to Tiruchchirappalli will be notified later.Train 12998/12997 Hapa - Tirunelveli - Hapa (bi-weekly) express will be renumbered as 19578/19577 with effect from November 1 and 4 respectively.

बुधवार को एक बार फिर सेना में भर्ती होने के लिए आये कैंडिडेट्स ने रेलवे स्टेशन पर जमकर उत्पात किया और ट्रेन के इंजन पर चढ़ कर धमा-चौकड़ी करते रहे। लेकिन चौंकाने वाली बात यह थी कि इस दौरान आधे घंटे तक ट्रेन का इंजन लावारिस चालू हालत में खड़ा रहा, न तो वहां कोई लोको पायलट था और न ही ट्रेन की सुरक्षा के लिए जिम्मेदार आरपीएफ।

बुधवार को चंदौली जिले के कैंडिडेट्स को सेना की भर्ती रैली के लिए बुलाया गया था। भर्ती रैली में छंट जाने के बाद सभी कैंडिडेट्स वाराणसी जाने वाली इंटरसिटी एक्सप्रेस पकड़ने के लिए गोरखपुर रेलवे स्टेशन पहुंचे। ट्रेन में पर्याप्त जगह न होने के चलते, ये सभी इंजन की तरफ चले गए। इंटरसिटी का इंजन चालू हालत में प्लेटफार्म नंबर 2 पर खड़ा था।

पुरानी दिल्ली रेलवे स्टेशन से यदि आप सफर शुरू करने जा रहे हैं तो प्लेटफॉर्म पर पहुंचने से पहले इस बात की जानकारी हासिल करलें कि आपकी ट्रेन कितने नंबर प्लेटफॉर्म पर खड़ी होगी, अन्यथा आपको परेशानी का सामना करना पड़ सकता है। दरअसल प्लेटफार्म नंबर नौ और दस पर मरम्मत कार्य के लिए अगले एक माह तक बारी-बारी से ट्रेनों की आवाजाही नहीं होगी।
पुरानी दिल्ली रेलवे स्टेशन पर प्लेटफॉर्म नंबर नौ व दस पर मरम्मत कार्य चल रहा है, जिस कारण 28 अगस्त से 11 सितंबर तक प्लेटफॉर्म नंबर दस से ट्रेनों की आवाजाही रोक दी गई है। जबकि 12 से 27 सितंबर तक प्लेटफॉर्म नंबर नौ बंद रखा जाएगा। प्लेटफॉर्म नंबर दस को बंद रखने की वजह से बुधवार को इस प्लेटफॉर्म पर आने व जाने वाली ट्रेनों को दूसरे प्लेटफॉर्म पर स्थानांतरित करना पड़ा है। जिससे दूसरे प्लेटफॉर्म पर बोझ बढ़ गया। परिणामस्वरूप कई दूसरे प्लेटफॉर्म पर नियमित रूप से आने व वहां से जाने वाली ट्रेनों के स्थान में भी बदलाव किया गया है। रेलवे अधिकारियों के अनुसार मंगलवार मध्य रात्रि से बुधवार शाम तक लगभग 50 ट्रेनों के प्लेटफॉर्म बदलने पड़े हैं।
वहीं ट्रेनों के प्लेटफॉर्म बदले जाने से यात्रियों को भी परेशानी का सामना करना पड़ा। हालांकि, उत्तर रेलवे की ओर से प्लेटफॉर्म नंबर दस के बंद रखे जाने की सूचना देने के लिए अखबारों में विज्ञापन भी प्रकाशित कराया गया है। इसके बावजूद अधिकांश यात्रियों को इस बारे में पता नहीं था। सबसे ज्यादा परेशानी स्थानीय यात्रियों को हुई। विवेक विहार जाने के लिए पुरानी दिल्ली रेलवे स्टेशन के ग्यारह नंबर प्लेटफॉर्म पर ट्रेन का इंतजार कर रहे राजीव सक्सेना व मोहित शर्मा ने बताया कि उनकी ट्रेन रोजाना प्लेटफॉर्म नंबर दस से रवाना होती है। इसलिए वे रोजाना की तरह प्लेटफॉर्म नंबर दस की ओर जाने लगे तो उन्हें जानकारी मिलीकि अगले एक पखवाड़े तक यह प्लेटफॉर्म बंद है। फिर जानकारी हासिल करने के बाद वे प्लेटफॉर्म नंबर ग्यारह पर पहुंचे हैं। वहीं कुछ यात्रियों का कहना था कि विज्ञापन में दस नंबर प्लेटफॉर्म वाली ट्रेनों को नौ नंबर प्लेटफॉर्म पर बदले जाने की बात कही गई थी, लेकिन यहां स्थिति कुछ और है।
इस संबंध में रेलवे अधिकारियों का कहना है कि कुछ ट्रेनों के समय को ध्यान में रखते हुए उनके प्लेटफॉर्म में बदलाव करना पड़ा है। यात्रियों को किसी तरह की परेशानी नहीं हो इसलिए इसकी सूचना डिस्पले करने के साथ हीं अनाउंसमेंट भी कि जा रहा है। यात्री किसी तरह की परेशानी से बचने के लिए पहले डिस्पले बोर्ड देखकर आश्वस्त हो जाएं कि उनकी ट्रेन किस प्लेटफॉर्म पर खड़ी होगी।