ProUI

A development proposal of Rs. 16 crore has been submitted to the Railway Board

Mangalore Central Railway Station may get an additional high-level platform and a third foot overbridge if the proposals of the Southern Railways to add these facilities at a cost of Rs. 16 crore in 2014-15 are approved by the Railway Board.

The facilities proposed also include laying of two new lines and a pit line which would enable it to handle more trains.

The information was disclosed by Additional Divisional Railway Manager of Palakkad Division Mohan A. Menon at a tri-monthly meeting chaired by MP Nalin Kumar Kateel to review the progress of railway projects in Dakshina Kannada.

Mr. Menon said the highest amount of Rs. 3.75 crore was being sought for the construction of a new foot overbridge and extension of the second foot overbridge, followed by Rs. 2.70 crore for a 540m pit line (a track with a pit under it all along to clean coaches); Rs. 2.55 crore for a new 540m platform; Rs. 1.71 crore for platform shelter and vacuum de-watering; Rs. 1.35 crore for a concrete apron for tracks to keep them clean; Rs. 1.29 crore for office accommodation and store; Rs. 73 lakh for two new lines; Rs. 50 lakhs for signalling arrangements; Rs. 50 lakh for improvement to circulating areas and Rs. 27 lakh for a compound wall, among others.

He noted that proposals worth Rs. 17 crore sent to the Railway Board were not cleared for the year 2013-14 and fresh proposals are being sent with modifications for the year 2014-15.

Mr. Menon expressed the inability of Railways to extend the Mumbai CST-Mangalore Junction Express train up to Mangalore Central station owing to the crowding of trains during afternoons.

The station would be able to handle more trains when the proposed facilities are added, he said. Extension of the proposed push-pull Bhatkal-Mangalore Junction train was also made at the meeting.

Mr. Menon said Kerala Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organisation (KITCO) has been appointed as consultants for the development of world class stations in Kerala and Mangalore. KITCO had come out with perception maps and it would hold meetings with stake holders.

The railway manager offered to inspect the Mangalore Station with regard to complaints of failure to maintain cleanliness. He also promised to look into the failure of authorities to provide sign boards and application forms in Kannada under the Tribhasha scheme of the railways to include local language.

He said the problems regarding wrong location of the pre-paid autorickshaw kiosk at Mangalore Junction railway station could have been avoided had the Railways been taken into confidence in advance. With the railways insisting on shifting the kiosk to prevent movement of the public being hit, the introduction of pre-paid autorickshaw service has been delayed.

Railway Protection Force of Northern Railway caught Manoj (Monu) R/O Gobindpuri, New Delhi for indulging into the touting activities for cornering reserved accommodation in the name of Cancer patients from Railway Reservation Centre, Okhala.  After intensive enquiries , it was revealed that two persons named Abhishek & Govind, residents of Bhagalpur, Bihar were involved in the touting activities by producing fake documents in name of cancer patients.  During investigation by RPF/Hazrat Nizamuddin, Abhishek was arrested from Okhala Reservation Centre o­n 23.7.13.  Later,on the basis of his statement, 275 forged certificates and 8 rubber stamps in the name of different doctors of A.I.I.M.S. were seized from him.  His other fellow tout Gobind was later arrested with the help of local police/Bhagalpur.

All the  accused have been sent in legal custody by Hon’ble court/Tis Hazari.

पलपल इंडिया ब्यूरो, मुम्बई.  गणेशोत्सव के दौरान पश्चिम रेलवे द्वारा बांद्रा टर्मिनस-मडगांव(गोवा) एवं अहमदाबाद-मडगांव वाया वसई रोड के बीच विशेष गाडिय़ां चलाई जायेंगी.

  गाड़ी सं. 09009 बांद्रा टर्मिनस-मडगांव विशेष ट्रेन 2 सितम्बर से 21 सितम्बर, 2013 तक बांद्रा टर्मिनस से प्रत्येक सोमवार, बुधवार, शुक्रवार एवं शनिवार को 00.15 बजे प्रस्थान करेगी और उसी दिन 16.30 बजे मडगांव पहुंचेगी. वापसी में गाड़ी सं. 09010 मडगांव-बांद्रा टर्मिनस विशेष ट्रेन 2 सितम्बर से 21 सितम्बर, 2013 तक मडगाँव से प्रत्येक सोमवार, बुधवार, शुक्रवार एवं शनिवार को 20.00 बजे प्रस्थान करेगी और अगले दिन 13.20 बजे  बांद्रा टर्मिनस पहुंचेगी.

इसी तरह  गाड़ी सं. 09416 अहमदाबाद-मडगांव विशेष ट्रेन 2 सितम्बर से 21 सितम्बर, 2013 तक अहमदबाद से प्रत्येक सोमवार, बुधवार एवं शनिवार को 16.55 बजे प्रस्थान करेगी और रात्रि 00.40 बजे वसई रोड तथा अगले दिन 16.30 बजे मडगांव पहुंचेगी.

वापसी में गाड़ी सं. 09415 मडगांव-अहमदाबाद विशेष ट्रेन 3 सितम्बर से 22 सितम्बर, 2013 तक मडगांव से प्रत्येक मंगलवार, गुरुवार एवं रविवार को 20.00 बजे प्रस्थान करेगी और अगले दिन 10.40 बजे वसई रोड तथा 19.20 बजे अहमदाबाद पहुंचेगी.  ट्रेन संख्या  09009 एवं  09416 की बुकिंग 2 अगस्त, 2013 से प्रारम्भ होगी.

In gross violation of the norms laid down by the Railways and the Social Forestry Department, seven trees were felled without permission at the South railway station premises here. Ernakulam area manager P L Ashok Kumar said that the trees were felled by a railway staff without seeking permission from higher authorities.

“The incident took place nearly a week ago. However, it was brought to my attention only the other day. Seven trees,  including three mango trees and four ‘Kannikonna' (Laburnum) trees were axed in front of the railway quarters located close to the railway station. Strict action will be taken against the individual who committed the offense,” Ashok Kumar said.

The railway employee who lives at the quarters had cut the trees stating that it was causing discomfort to him and his family, the railway officials said.

"Also, he claimed that trees were blocking the sunlight to his house. But, since he had not sought the permission from us, we have registered it as an offense," the official said.

As per the Railway norms, no tree can be cut at the railway station premises unless it causes danger to the railway installments,  including railway tracks, railway buildings, signals etc. “Even then, we are supposed to carry out a lot of formalities,  such as seeking permission from the Forest Department. We have informed the Railway Police Force to study the issue and prepare reports,” the officials added.

Meanwhile, the officials clarified that no case would be filed against the individual because the wood from the trees has not been taken out of the Railway premises.

“Otherwise, we could have treated it as a case of theft. However, it is clear that the individual had no intention of stealing the wood for any other use. Department action,  including punishment and fine will be levied upon him instead,” Ashok Kumar added.

Recently, at a railway station in Palakkad, the Forest Department had given permission to cut down a few branches of the trees as these was posing hazards to the railway passengers.

Meanwhile, as per the reports with the Social Forestry wing of the Forest Department, more than 1,400 trees were felled in Ernakulam alone in a single year. For the Kochi Metro Rail project, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation was given permission to cut down as many as 48 trees at the eastern entry of the Ernakulam Junction station.

East Coast Railway (ECoR) has reduced the popular Visakhapatnam – Mumbai LTT Super Fast (SF) Express into a clone of the popular 11020/11019 Bhubaneswar – CSTM (Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus) Konark Express to meet the demand of the people of Odisha.

Besides reducing the status of the popular 22819/20 Visakhapatnam-Mumbai LTT from SF to ‘ordinary express’, it has revised the timings from Visakhapatnam to make it trail behind the Konark Express, on the plea that there was a demand for running of a clone train to Konark from Bhubaneswar. The Operating Department of ECoR Headquarters in Bhubaneswar came out with the startling reply when a passenger sought information under the RTI Act.

“The present timings of Visakhapatnam-LTT SF Express are not only convenient but also very comfortable for both business travellers and regular passengers,” S.V. Iyer, the RTI applicant, wrote in his grievance to the Railway Board. He wondered: “Why will a passenger prefer this train, if Konark Express plies just ahead of it? Why are such blunders being committed again and again?” He sought a study and re-introduction of the popular train in its present timings for the benefit of the people at large.

ECoR contention

The ECoR replied that the Konark Express is over-crowded throughout the year and occupancy of the train is more than 130 per cent in all classes. There has been a demand to run a clone express following 11020/11019, which could not materialise due to maintenance problem at Bhubaneswar. Hence, it has been decided to start a train trailing the Konark Express from Visakhapatnam and it is the only convenient timing to increase the frequency of LTT-Visakhapatnam S/F from bi-weekly to daily.

The contention that Visakhapatnam-LTT can be a clone of Konark Express is wrong, feel those watching the developments. This is because the two trains do not run on the same route and the stoppages are also different. They apprehend that on the plea of a clone, the train would be extended to Bhubaneswar, when the new Bhubaneswar station starts functioning.

ECoR had announced that the Visakhapatnam-LTT will be converted into a daily with effect from September 10. But, even after that date, the train is being shown as a bi-weekly with a new number and timings on the official website. What has happened to the proposal to convert it into a daily?

01-08-2013
EXTENSION OF NEW DELHI- NEW FARAKKA BI-WEEKLY EXPRESS TRAIN UPTO MALDA TOWN
..
For the convenience of rail passengers, Railway has decided to extend the run of 14004/14003 New Delhi- New Farakka- New Delhi Bi-Weekly express train upto Malda Town with immediate effect when departing from New Delhi and from 03.08.2013 when departing from Malda Town as per the following programme :

The 14004 New Delhi- Malda Town Bi-Weeklyexpress train leaving New Delhi o­n every Sunday and Thursday at 06.05 p.m. will reach New Farakka at 10.47 p.m. & depart from there at 10.52 p.m. to reach Malda Townat 11.50 p.m. the next day.  In the return direction, the 14003 Malda Town - New Delhi Bi-Weekly express train will depart from Malda Townon every Tuesday and Saturday at 09.05 a.m. to arrive at New Farakka at 09.40 a.m. & depart from there at 09.45 a.m. to arrive at New Delhi at 02.40 p.m. the next day.

Composition, route etc. of 14004/14003 New Delhi- Malda Town- New Delhi Bi-Weekly express trainwill remain as unchanged.

हमारे संवाददाता, भागलपुर : भागलपुर स्टेशन से खुलने वाली ट्रेनों की सफाई एक अगस्त से रेलकर्मियों के जिम्मे रहेगी। एक अगस्त से यंग बंगाल कंपनी काम बंद कर देगी। अब 14 अगस्त से यूरेका फो‌र्ब्स लिमिटेड साउथ इंक्लेव नामक कंपनी द्वारा काम शुरू करने की बात कही जा रही है। कंपनी के साथ रेलवे का चार जून को अनुबंध हुआ है। चलती ट्रेनों में सफाई का काम चार जून से बंद है।

East Coast Railway (ECoR) has reduced the popular Visakhapatnam – Mumbai LTT Super Fast (SF) Express into a clone of the popular 11020/11019 Bhubaneswar – CSTM (Chatrapathi Shivaji Terminus) Konark Express to meet the demand of the people of Odisha.

Besides reducing the status of the popular 22819/20 Visakhapatnam-Mumbai LTT from SF to ‘ordinary express’, it has revised the timings from Visakhapatnam to make it trail behind the Konark Express, on the plea that there was a demand for running of a clone train to Konark from Bhubaneswar. The Operating Department of ECoR Headquarters in Bhubaneswar came out with the startling reply when a passenger sought information under the RTI Act.

“The present timings of Visakhapatnam-LTT SF Express are not only convenient but also very comfortable for both business travellers and regular passengers,” S.V. Iyer, the RTI applicant, wrote in his grievance to the Railway Board. He wondered: “Why will a passenger prefer this train, if Konark Express plies just ahead of it? Why are such blunders being committed again and again?” He sought a study and re-introduction of the popular train in its present timings for the benefit of the people at large.

ECoR contention

The ECoR replied that the Konark Express is over-crowded throughout the year and occupancy of the train is more than 130 per cent in all classes. There has been a demand to run a clone express following 11020/11019, which could not materialise due to maintenance problem at Bhubaneswar. Hence, it has been decided to start a train trailing the Konark Express from Visakhapatnam and it is the only convenient timing to increase the frequency of LTT-Visakhapatnam S/F from bi-weekly to daily.

The contention that Visakhapatnam-LTT can be a clone of Konark Express is wrong, feel those watching the developments. This is because the two trains do not run on the same route and the stoppages are also different. They apprehend that on the plea of a clone, the train would be extended to Bhubaneswar, when the new Bhubaneswar station starts functioning.

ECoR had announced that the Visakhapatnam-LTT will be converted into a daily with effect from September 10. But, even after that date, the train is being shown as a bi-weekly with a new number and timings on the official website. What has happened to the proposal to convert it into a daily?

Reportedly western railways approached IIT Bombay to suggest some ways to improve local train operations. A presentation was given to raiway officials on Wednesday.
“During the presentation, IIT-B concluded that our theoretical plan of scheduling services was more or less correct. However, certain changes in signalling and acceleration of trains were suggested to improve punctuality,” an official said. Sharat Chandrayan, chief public relations officer of WR said, “IIT-B has been asked to come out with a report to help the administration optimize its resources. While Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) is will purchase software worth Rs 5 crore from a German company, WR is looking at improving its suburban operations.”

The driver in the train crash last week in northwestern Spain that killed 79 people told prosecutors that he had recklessly exceeded the speed limit and would have to deal with the guilt of what happened for the rest of his life, according to a statement he made to prosecutors published Wednesday in the Spanish newspaper El Pais.

Preliminary investigations released Tuesday showed that the driver of the train, Francisco Jose Garzon Amo, had answered a train official’s call on the cabin’s telephone and was traveling at 95 miles per hour – almost twice the speed limit – at the time of the accident.

Asked why he had exceeded the speed limit, Garzon told the magistrate’s court in Santiago de Compostela, where the accident occurred: “I have no explanation, I don’t understand how I didn’t see it. I should have known that at that point that I had to drive at 80 kilometers 1/850 miles3/8 per hour.” He added: “The aftereffects of what happened are enormous and will stay with me for the rest of my life.”

La Voz de Galicia/Monica Ferreiros / APIn this photo taken on Wednesday July 24 2013, Emergency personnel respond to the scene of a train derailment in Santiago de Compostela, Spain. Data from two black boxes retrieved from the mangled wreck showed that the train had been traveling as fast as 119 miles per hour just minutes before the crash on a section of the track where the speed limit is 50 mph.

The Alvia 151 train was carrying 218 passengers when it derailed on a turn on July 24 near Santiago de Compostela, in northwestern Spain. The train careered off the rails before slamming into a concrete wall. Some of its cars caught fire. Most of the victims were Spanish, although there were passengers from Algeria, the Dominican Republic, Italy, Mexico and the United States.

Related Train driver in deadly Spanish derailment was on phone at time of crash, investigators say Spain train crash driver charged with multiple counts of negligent homicide after horrific derailment that killed 79 Spain train crash driver cried ‘We’re only human!’ after train derailed at nearly 200 km/h, killing at least 80 Spanish train driver’s cellphone seized as police check calls, messages made surrounding deadly derailment Garzon told prosecutors that when he reached the turn, he realized almost immediately that he had made a lethal error, according to the report in El País. “In the curve I realized, I realized that I won’t make it, I won’t make it,” he said, adding that he had activated the brake.

Garzon, 52, a veteran driver who had bragged about a penchant for speed in a Facebook posting that has since been deleted, was arrested in his hospital room last week. He was charged with multiple counts of reckless homicide and was released without bail on Sunday.

His whereabouts since his release have not been publicized.

XOAN A. SOLER/AFP/Getty ImagesA picture taken on July 24, 2013 shows wounded train driver Francisco Jose Garzon Amo evacuated by two men after the train accident near the city of Santiago de Compostela. The focus of a probe into a horrific train derailment in northwestern Spain that killed at least 80 people, on July 26, 2013 turned to the injured driver. Minutes after the accident, his face bloodied from the crash, he phoned Renfe, the Spanish national railway company, and said, “I want to die,” according to police records of the call.

Divorced and with no children, Garzon had recently moved in with his ailing mother near Santiago de Compostela.

His passport has been taken away, and he is required to register his presence with a court in Santiago de Compostela every week.

FacebookThe picture of the speedometer the driver put on his Facebook page, according to Spanish media. Last year, Garzon had posted a photograph of a locomotive speedometer needle stuck at 124 mph on Facebook, boasting that the reading “has not been tampered with.”

According to a statement Tuesday by the Superior Court of Galicia, the region where the accident happened, Garzon received a telephone call from an official of Renfe and was “reading a map or some kind of paper document” at the time of the crash.

The police are also investigating why another driver was present in the cabin at the time of the crash.

Investigators have retrieved two data recorders, one from the front of the wreck and the other from the back.

The Superior Court of Galicia used the contents of the data recorders to determine that Garzon had activated the brakes just “seconds before the crash.”

The accident was Spain’s worst train crash since 1972, when 86 people were killed in the southwest of the country. While national outrage has focused on Garzon, the largest union of railway workers has insisted that the surveillance system tracking the train’s speed was partly to blame since it was prone to human error.

Most high-speed lines that are part of the European rail traffic system are covered by a GPS-based surveillance network that constantly monitors trains’ speed and automatically brakes them at speed limits.