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इलाहाबाद : उत्तर मध्य रेलवे के गैपुरा स्टेशन के निकट ओएचई (ओवरहेड इलेक्ट्रिक उपकरण) टूटने से दिल्ली-हावड़ा रेलमार्ग आठ घंटे बाधित रहा। इसके चलते सात ट्रेनों को डाइवर्ट कर चलाया गया जबकि कई ट्रेनें विभिन्न स्टेशनों पर खड़ी रहीं।

इलाहाबाद-मुगलसराय के बीच डाउन लाइन पर गैपुरा रेलवे स्टेशन के निकट महानंदा एक्सप्रेस के चालक ने मंगलवार की रात आठ बजे ओएचई टूटने की सूचना कंट्रोल रूम को दी, जिसको ठीक करने के लिए इलाहाबाद से टॉवर वैगन भेजा गया। खराबी दूर करने और डाउन लाइन ट्रैक खाली करते भोर के चार बज गए। इस बीच दर्जनों यात्री और गुड्स ट्रेनें राह में फंसी रहीं। ट्रैक क्लीयर होने के बाद ट्रेनों का संचालन शुरू हुआ। आठ घंटे संचालन ठप रहने का असर बुधवार दोपहर तक रहा। दिल्ली से आने वाली ट्रेनें भी विलंब से आई। कानपुर से संपूर्ण क्रांति, सियालदह दूरंतो, जनसाधरण को लखनऊ-वाराणसी रेलमार्ग एवं दिल्ली-हावड़ा दूरंतो, गुवाहाटी राजधानी, पूना-पटना व महाबोधी एक्सप्रेस को इलाहाबाद सिटी-वाराणसी मार्ग से चलाया गया। आनंद विहार-हलदिया, सियालदह राजधानी, कोलकाता राजधानी, पटना राजधानी, मगध, राजेंद्र नगर एक्सप्रेस, पुरुषोत्तम, अजीमाबाद एक्सप्रेस, पूना-पटना, तूफान, जयनगर गरीब रथ, एलटीटी-राजेंद्र नगर, संघमित्रा, भागलपुर एक्सप्रेस, कोलकाता मेल, पूर्वा समेत कई ट्रेनें विलंबित रहीं।

Western Railway commuters have benefitted from measures
like the introduction of 12-car rakes and increase in services over the years, but they say its punctuality has taken a beating in the process.
    Officials too admitted that WR’s moves to increase its capacity, by switching from 9-car rakes to 12-car and 15-car ones and introducing more services, may have inadvertently slowed it down. The punctuality of its trains has come down from 97% to around 95% and nearly 50 to 60 services are behind schedule on an average every day.
    “A signal turns from red to yellow to double yellow and green as a train moves from one signaling territory to another. But a 9-car train occupies lesser signaling territory compared to a 12- or 15-car train. In the present situation, some trains are unable to hit maximum speed as it takes longer to get a double yellow or green signal. When the motorman sees a yellow signal, he has to reduce the speed to 38 kmph,” a senior official explained.
    The maximum speed on fast lines is 80 to 100 kmph, whereas it is atleast 50 to 60 kmph on slow lines if the signal is clear. Many services run behind schedule due to the extra time taken by the longer rakes to cross each signaling territory. However, it is difficult to recover the lost time with speed as the tracks are saturated due to the increase in services. Moreover, minor disruptions or trespassing incidents also delay trains.
    In 2006-07, WR had 1,140 services, including 532 ninecar ones. After procuring new rakes, converting to AC traction and expansion of its rail corridor, WR now runs 1,305 services, of which 1,165 are 12-car and 30 are 15-car services.
    “On an average, there is a 5-10 minute delay. But besides delays over signaling, the problem is also due to the retrofitted rakes, whose performance is below standard,” claimed a motorman.
    “I board a train to Bhayander at 8.23pm from Dadar, but it never reaches its destination on time, halting intermittently between stations,” said Mira Road resident Vijay Pancholi.
    “Most trains halt for at least four to six minutes between Dahisar and Borivli,” said Shailesh Goyal, former member of the Zonal Rail User Consultative Committee.
    A senior railway official said, “Our first task is to re-position the signals to allow trains to run at maximum speed. The signal poles were installed keeping in mind 9-car services.”
    WR has also decided to remodel the yard at Borivli and plans to improve its services with help from the Indian Institute of Technology-Powai. WR’s divisional manager Shailendra Kumar said, “We will take a number of steps to improve punctuality.”
NINE TO TWELVE STRETCH
2006
1,043
services at 4 minutes per service
2013
1,305
services at 3 minutes per service AUTO-SIGNALING | Signals on WR automatically convert from red to yellow, double yellow and green once a train hits its track circuit TRACK CIRCUIT | It is an electrical circuit installed to know if a train is occupying the track in a particular section. It comprises a power supply at one end and a relay on the other end DISTANCE | Signal poles are installed at a distance of 400-500 meters, while the length of each coach is 22 meters. The change to 12-coach rakes means a train takes longer to hit its track circuit as the motorman often encounters a yellow signal which restricts him to a speed of 38kmph. This has a cascading effect on other services
BORIVLI ISSUE
At Borivli, Western Railway authorities plan to remodel the yard to allow the simultaneous entry of trains in the Churchgate direction on both platforms 5 and 6. Shifting the crossover further north will help resolve the problem. WR has requested the BMC for a small patch of land to carry out the modification

Foot-long space between train and platform at the station yanks in 55- year- old BMC sweeper, who was rushed to GT Hospital with injuries to his head, knees and arms

BEwary of the death trap yawning wide between trains and platforms — it will swallow you right in your stride.

On the day 66- year- old Hansmukh Goda lost his life less than a week after falling in the gap between the train and platform 1 at Marine Lines station, the same space sucked in another person, a BMC employee, sending him to the hospital with grave injuries on his head.

According to eyewitnesses, around 11.30 am on Thursday, Ravindra Parmar (55) slipped through the fissure between the platform and his train as it started from the station.

“ The incident took place when he was trying to get inside the compartment. He slipped and fell through the wide gap.

Despite that, the train didn’t halt at the station,” said Shivaji Barge, a GRP official attached with the Western Railway, who rushed Parmar to GT Hospital in Fort.

Following an X- ray and CT scan, he was admitted to the hospital.

Parmar, a civic sweeper, was heading to Mahalaxmi when he lost his footing. “ He managed to survive because he fell and stayed between the platform and the tracks, which saved him from getting crushed under the rake. More than five coaches passed by him while he was stuck under the train,” added Barge.

Doctors said Parmar had sustained minor injuries to his knees and arms but his head injury was severe.

“ We suspect that he has sustained severe head injuries.

We’d be able to determine how grave the damage is after further investigations,” said a doctor at GT Hospital.

91 The number of people who have died by falling in the gaps between trains and platforms in the last 11 years in the city

Mind the gap

June 1: A 19- year- old girl fell at Elphinstone Road when she slipped between the gap at platform number 1. She was rushed to KEM Hospital but lost her legs.

June 4: A 24- year- old supermarket attendant got caught between the train and the platform at Rabale railway station on June 4. She succumbed to internal injuries and abrasions after being rushed to the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) Hospital in Vashi.

August 4: Police naik Babasaheb Bhandare fell into the gap between the train and the platform at Kasara station on Sunday night. He was rushed to hospital with grievous injuries but succumbed a few hours later

Senior citizen who fell in gap last week dies

Hansmukh Goda (66) who slipped into the gap between the platform and the train at Marine Lines station on August 2 — severing both his legs — lost his battle for life around 3.30 am yesterday, at Bombay Hospital in New Marine Lines.

Goda, who lost both his legs in the incident, was operated for over three hours on Tuesday. Although doctors had said that the odds of a successful surgery were slim, they proceeded with the operation since the infection from his legs would have spread all over his body. But an hour after the operation, Goda suffered a cardiac failure around 3.30 am on Thursday. A hospital authority said, “The infection had already spread in the body. And on account of excessive blood loss the heart stopped pumping.” Goda’s body was taken to GT Hospital for post- mortem.

“We have lost him but we wish that commuters are mindful of the huge gaps next to platform,” said his son- inlaw Bharat Dhamecha.

Withdraw the call or face action, sponsors told

DGP V. Dinesh Reddy on Thursday made it clear that there was no question of allowing ‘rail roko’ as part of the ongoing agitation in coastal and Rayalaseema districts. Non-bailable cases would be booked against those participating in the programme.Addressing a press conference here, Mr. Dinesh Reddy said rallies in support of integrated State or Telangana in the State capital would not be allowed at all.He asked the sponsors of ‘rail roko’ to withdraw their call or else the police would take stringent steps identifying the participants on the basis of video clippings.“There will be 100 per cent video coverage of railway stations and tracks. And there will also be an aerial survey.” Recalling a SC direction not permitting rail roko at any cost, Mr. Reddy said it was on the basis of court ruling that the police acted tough against a similar programme in Telangana in the past. The same norm would be applied this time in a counter agitation. Police had taken the call seriously and he had himself held consultations with the SCR General Manager, chief operations manager and chief security commissioner.The Additional DGP in charge of railways would be stationed in Vijayawada to enforce the proposed steps, he added. He said the police would permit democratic forms of protest to highlight grievances but not something that infringed the rights of others.

Holding up train traffic fell into the category of infringement because it led to suffering to passengers, including the aged.

NGOS’ PROTEST

Referring to the picketing of government offices by non-gazetted staff, Mr. Reddy warned that there was little difference in the programme with ‘wrongful restraint’ which attracted criminal action. There was also the danger of anti-social elements penetrating into the mob to create lawlessness.

On the preparedness of police to tackle the agitations, Mr. Reddy said 55 companies of Central paramilitary forces were deployed for the purpose. Police did not enter the Secretariat to deal with protests in the absence of any request from the Chief Secretary or the Principal Secretary (Political).

KATIHAR: The long distance train commuters, particularly for destinations like New Delhi, Punjab and down southern India, are a harassed lot due to inordinately late running of trains which originate from Guwahati and pass through Katihar division in North-East Frontier Railway (NF Railway), and further Bihar.Practically all the trains originating from Guwahati are not sticking to their time schedule. The train services have been thrown in disarray due to the ongoing stir for the creation of Bodoland state in the north-east India, according to railway officials.Even New Delhi-bound highly prestigious Rajdhani Express has not been maintaining its time schedule, and is generally 8 to 10 hours behind schedule every day. Sometimes, it has been running as late as by 14 to 16 hours. The south-bound trains, too, are greatly affected so are also the trains for Punjab, Gujarat and Mumbai, railway sources say.

"It was a great ordeal for all of us. My brother had booked tickets in advance for Delhi in New Delhi-Dibrugarh Rajdhani Express. But, the train reached only early morning the next day, 16 hours behind the schedule," said Manish Duggar, who went to see them off at the station .

"It was only for the Internet that we were spared the nightmarish experience of waiting on the platform," he added. But, the million dollar question is how many travelers have access to Internet, and more pertinently, can the travelers reply upon the railway enquiry system which is mostly dysfunctional, particularly during night hours, ask the train passengers.

Ever since parts of Assam has been on boil over demand for creation of Bodoland, train services, touching Guwahati are in a state of topsy-turvy.

Katihar divisional railway manager ( DRM ) Arun Kumar, talking to TOI on Thursday, admitted the fact that the trains, originating from Guwahati in NF Railways, running hours behind schedule. He said railway authorities are desperately trying to maintain time schedule or minimize the late running hours.

ALLAHABAD: To commemorate 10 years of its existence, North Central Railway has planned a series of programmes. The year-long celebrations will have public participation and even passengers can take part in them. Talking to TOI, CPRO North Central Railway, Sandeep Mathur said, "It is a proud moment that NCR has completed 10 years. There will be a series of programmes that will be organised throughout the year so that people can have everlasting memories and celebrate their association with NCR. There will be logo designing, slogan and jingle writing and photography competitions which will be open for public participation." He also added that there will be various cultural and educational programmes during the month of September. Further, there will also be sporting activities for the railway employees and officers. In addition to this, there will also be a 'Walk' where general public will participate. North Central Railway came into existence on April 1, 2003. It has completed 10 years of existence this year. The railway zone is planning a series of events to commemorate the event. The first set of events will include a logo designing competition, slogan writing and photography competition. While logo designing, NCR is expecting the participants to design logo based on the achievements of North Central Railway.

There will also be a slogan writing contest in which participants will require to write a slogan about the various facets of North Central Railway. The maximum length of the slogan is about 10 words. There will also be a jingle writing contest which can be of maximum 8 lines. The last date of submission of entries to these contests is August 21. This competition is open to the general public and also to the railway employees.

To mark the event, there will also be a photography competition in which participants can showcase photographs pertaining to stations, trains or any event related with NCR. The last date of entries to this competition is October 15.

NCR officials informed that in September, a series of cultural and educational programmes are also being planned. In the cultural programme, there will be dance, drama and singing competition in which wards of the railway employees will showcase their talent in front of the audience. There will also be a debate competition.

In February next year, there will be various sporting activities for the railway employees and the officers. There will be various sports competitions including cricket, hockey, athletics and other events.

ALLAHABAD: To commemorate 10 years of its existence, North Central Railway has planned a series of programmes. The year-long celebrations will have public participation and even passengers can take part in them. Talking to TOI, CPRO North Central Railway, Sandeep Mathur said, "It is a proud moment that NCR has completed 10 years. There will be a series of programmes that will be organised throughout the year so that people can have everlasting memories and celebrate their association with NCR. There will be logo designing, slogan and jingle writing and photography competitions which will be open for public participation." He also added that there will be various cultural and educational programmes during the month of September. Further, there will also be sporting activities for the railway employees and officers. In addition to this, there will also be a 'Walk' where general public will participate. North Central Railway came into existence on April 1, 2003. It has completed 10 years of existence this year. The railway zone is planning a series of events to commemorate the event. The first set of events will include a logo designing competition, slogan writing and photography competition. While logo designing, NCR is expecting the participants to design logo based on the achievements of North Central Railway.

There will also be a slogan writing contest in which participants will require to write a slogan about the various facets of North Central Railway. The maximum length of the slogan is about 10 words. There will also be a jingle writing contest which can be of maximum 8 lines. The last date of submission of entries to these contests is August 21. This competition is open to the general public and also to the railway employees.

To mark the event, there will also be a photography competition in which participants can showcase photographs pertaining to stations, trains or any event related with NCR. The last date of entries to this competition is October 15.

NCR officials informed that in September, a series of cultural and educational programmes are also being planned. In the cultural programme, there will be dance, drama and singing competition in which wards of the railway employees will showcase their talent in front of the audience. There will also be a debate competition.

In February next year, there will be various sporting activities for the railway employees and the officers. There will be various sports competitions including cricket, hockey, athletics and other events.

The Carriage Repair Workshop at Mancheswar of East Coast Railway has received coveted ISO 9001-2008 Certification for Quality Management Systems. Prem Chandra, Chief Mechanical Engineer of East Coast Railway, received the certificate issued by Certification Services Limited. S.K. Pankaj, Chief Workshop Manager of Carriage Repair Workshop, informed the workshop would celebrate completion of 30 years production in a big way in December next.

MADURAI: A stream of visitors thronged the KudalNagar station, near Madurai junction, on Thursday to explore a special train that is circling the country to promote awareness on science and biodiversity. Aptly named Science Express Biodiversity Special (SEBS), it reached Madurai after a four-day stay at Trichy junction.The 16-coach train showcases the rich biodiversity of the country with each coach displaying in detail the different biodiversity zones of the country. The train also displays other facets of biodiversity and its impact on livelihoods of the people in specific regions.The SEBS was inaugurated at Kudal Nagar station by V Ajithkumar, additional railway divisional manager, in the presence of railway officials. By afternoon students from more than ten schools visited the train, SEBS project staff said. "The response is very good and school students are the majority. We expect more people on the coming days as next three days are holidays," commented Divya Pande, a project staff. "Comparatively, the response in south India is overwhelming. For instance, we had 57,000 visitors in a single day at Vizakapatanam, while the average visitor count for four days at a north Indian station is around 50,000," she said.

"The exhibition train is very informative and the volunteers are explaining the concepts very well," said D Dhya neswaran, a class 6 student of Equitas Gurukul Matriculation School in Dindigul. Students from government schools were also present for the event. The eager students from government high school, Valayankulam were seen jotting the information they had gleaned from the exhibts. "Our teachers brought us to have a look and we are very thrilled," commented Roobarani, another school student.

The visitors, including students, had a tough time reaching the station as they had to negotiate the uneven road without proper metal tops. The access roads are poor and moreover the entry is confusing, said a school teacher from Valayankulam government school. The school vans have to navigate a dirt road nearby the Kudalpudur bridge to reach the station. It will be good if the railway authorities construct proper roads since many of the exhibition trains are stationed at Kudal Nagar regularly, the visitors said.

When contacted ADRM, V Ajithkumar said that the proposal to improve the roads is on anvil since the station was declared as Adarsh station recently. "We are working on the proposal and the station will be provided more facilities including roads in future," he said.

Bhubaneswar: The Carriage Repair Workshop of the East Coast Railway at Mancheswar added another feather to its cap by getting the coveted ISO 9001-2008 Certification for Quality Management Systems on Wednesday. RCoR Chief Mechanical Engineer Prem Chandra received the certificate issued by Certification Services Ltd. He praised the initiatives taken by the Mancheswar Workshop and urged its staff and officers to continue their efforts to achieve many such milestones in future also.Chief Workshop Manager SK Pankaj informed that the Workshop is planning to celebrate its completion of 30 years of production in December with lot of festivities and record outturn. It is also planning to get ISO 14000 for Environment Management System and ISO 18000 certification for Occupational Health & Safety System by December.Last month, the Workshop achieved the highest-ever outturn of 145 coaches. It also produced 1,001 wheels, which is another milestone.