ProUI

Kochi: A suburban rail service can become a reality in a mere two years unlike  the high-speed rail corridor and similar projects, but to be feasible it has to cover the whole of the state, strongly feels Mr C. Raju, a former Chief Engineer of Konkan Railways and General Manager,  Rites.“We would need to install Automatic Block Signalling (ABS) every one kilometer on the existing rail line to enable more trains to run on the same track. However, the current section selected  -Thiruvananthapuram-Haripad-Chengannur  - is not ideal as the Shoranur-Ernakulam section is the most congested in the state with six lines from Mangalore and Palakkad merging into two here,” he explains.Raju, who had first raised the demand for a suburban service over a decade ago, suggests the feasibility study should cover all three metropolitan cities of Kozhikode, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram, and not  just the section running upto Chengannur. In his view, going in for ABS technology may prove cost effective. “The cost could be around Rs 25 lakh per km  and not Rs 20 crore as is being suggested. The main expense will be for converting the level crossing into a RoB or subway. This has to be executed  anyway considering  future traffic,” he adds.

G. Kesava Chandran, DMRC Chief Engineer and former General Manager of Rail Vikas Nigam , who is credited with the construction of the Edappally-Vallarpadam bridge, too feels the ABS system will not take much time to execute as it requires no land acquisition.

“The ABS system can be implemented in a year, although much depends on the agency entrusted with the work. Raising the height of platforms to level with the  suburban trains can be done in another year,” he adds.

Reliable, cost-effective rail plan has many takers

K.P. Sethunath

Kozhikode: The Rs 3,000 crore suburban rail proposed  for the Thiruvananthapuram- Chengannur and Thiruvananthapuram-Harippad sections has received a thumbs up from rail passengers' associations, who see it as the most realistic and suitable mass transport system the government has come up with for the state in recent years.

But they feel it should cover the entire state from Parassala to Kasargod as the project is both affordable and easy to execute with no major land acquisition required.

“The cost of Rs 20 crore per km makes the suburban rail system one of the most cost-effective mass transportation proposals  the government  has come up with in the past few years,” said Mohanan Manalil, a senior engineer with the Kerala State Electricity Board in Kozhikode and secretary of the Malabar Rail Users’ Forum.

“Compared with the proposed high speed rail project, which will cost Rs 230 crore per km to execute, the suburban rail project is realistic and feasible. It is the right model for the state which is short of both economic resources and  land,” he added, however, suggesting that besides studying the feasibility of the project for the Thiruvnananthapuram-Chengannur and Harippad sections, the government should consider taking it to other parts of the state too.

“We could broadly classify the state into three geographical areas - Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Malabar - and do feasibility studies for each taking their local needs into account,” he maintained.

C.E. Chakkunni, general convener of the Malabar Rail Users’ Association too believes the government should consider extending the suburban rail to the Malabar and Kochi regions while the work on the Thiruvananthapuram-Chengannur and Harippad sections continues.  

“If an existing double line track can be used for running a suburban system on the stretches selected, this could be done in Kochi and the Malabar as well,” he argued. Pointing out that the doubling of the Shornur-Kannur section was scheduled to be completed in the next one month, he said this could open the door for a feasibility study for a suburban rail system in the Malabar region.

Also, in his view, the project should encourage the state to come out with a holistic transportation policy for the state. “The government currently has no comprehensive policy or vision document covering  transportation by rail, road, water and air for the state, ” he noted.

SCR Appeals to the Public Not to Let the Cattle on to the Railway Tracks in the Interest of Safety

In the light of the derailment of o­ne Coach of Train  No. 12666 Kanyakumari-Howrah Express near Kavali Station o­n Gudur-Vijayawada section of Vijayawada Division in the wee hours of today (22nd Sep. 2012) due to cattle run over, SCR makes an appeal to the public not to let their cattle stray o­nto the railway tracks for any purpose.

While SCR continues its checks against such occurrences, It is advised that the people, especially the cattle owners in the villages / towns situated adjacent to railway track / stations may ensure that the cattle do not move near the railway track area for grazing or for crossing from o­ne side to the other or for any other purpose. Such acts of negligence are likely to adversely affect train operations and endanger the safety of the passengers.

In such cases of negligence, the owners of the cattle are liable to be prosecuted under Section154 and Section 174 (c) of the Railways Act 1989, which is reproduced below:-

Section 154: Endangering safety of persons travelling by railway by rash or negligent act or omission-If any person in a rash and negligent manner does any act, or omits to do what he is legally bound to do, and the act or omission is likely to endanger the safety of any person travelling or being upon any railway, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to o­ne year, or with fine, or with both.

Section 174: Obstructing running of train, etc- If any railway servant (whether o­n duty or otherwise) or any other person obstructs or causes to be obstructed or attempts to obstruct any train or other rolling stock upon a railway , -

c)by tampering with, disconnecting or interfering in any other manner with its hose pipe or tampering with signal gear or otherwise,

he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, or with both.
In the instant case of  derailment of a coach of Train No. 12666 Express near Kavali due to cattle run over, the railway authorities have registered a case under Section 154 and 174 (c) of Railways Act 1989 at Bitragunta RPF Outpost and the offenders will be taken up after necessary investigation.

भागलपुर/ बांका: झारखंड के सरैयाहाट के पास 14 सितंबर को स्थानीय लोगों ने हॉल्ट को लेकर ट्रेन पर पथराव किया. लोगों ने चालक व गार्ड को बंधक बनाया व यात्रियों के साथ अभद्र व्यवहार किया. इस घटना पर डीआरएम ने इस मार्ग पर रेल सेवा रोक दी थी.

रायपुर। इस बार दुर्गा पूजा और दीवाली के आसपास रेल-यात्रा करना काफी मुश्किल होगा। दो महीने पहले ही अधिकतर ट्रेनें पैक हो चुकी हैं। 14 अक्टूबर को दुर्गा पूजा और 3 नवंबर को दीवाली है। अक्टूबर और नवंबर में सभी रूट की ट्रेनों में 200 से अधिक वेटिंग है। कई ट्रेनों में तो अब रिग्रेट अथवा नो रूम की स्थिति है। हालांकि त्योहारी भीड़ में प्रत्येक
वर्ष ट्रेनों में कंफर्म टिकट मिलना मुश्किल होता है लेकिन इस बार यात्रियों की परेशानी इसलिए बढ़ेगी क्योंकि रेलवे की ओर से पूजा स्पेशल ट्रेनें नहीं चलाई गई हैं।

पिछले 15 सालों में पहली बार ऐसा हुआ है कि दुर्गा पूजा और दीपावली के दौरान स्पेशल ट्रेनें नहीं चलाई जा रही हैं। इस कारण यात्रियों की निर्भरता पूरी तरह दैनिक व साप्ताहिक ट्रेनों पर है। उल्लेखनीय है कि इस बार स्पेशल ट्रेनें नहीं चलने की खबर भास्कर ने डेढ़ महीना पहले ही दे दी थी। तत्काल टिकट के लिए बढ़ेगी मारामारी : यात्रियों के पास अब तत्काल टिकट लेने के अलावा दूसरा कोई चारा नहीं बचा है।

ऐसे में अब तत्काल टिकट के लिए रेलवे काउंटरों पर जबरदस्त भीड़ देख्रने को मिलेगी। यात्रियों की इसी मजबूरी का फायदा अब दलाल भी उठाने की कोशिश करेंगे। रेलवे प्रशासन का कहना है कि यात्रियों को इस बात का ध्यान रखना होगा कि वे लंबी दूरी की ट्रेनों के लिए तत्काल टिकट 24 घंटे पहले ही ले सकते हैं भले ही वह ट्रेन दूसरे दिन रायपुर स्टेशन पर पहुंचती हो। कहने का मतलब है कि जिस दिन जो ट्रेन जिस स्टेशन से छूटेगी, उसके एक दिन पहले तत्काल टिकट ओपन हो जाएगा।

The South Central Railway will run four special trains between Hyderabad and Gulbarga for Urs-e-Shareef of Hazrath Khaja Bandanawaz.Hyderabad-Gulbarga special train will depart from Hyderabad at 22.00 hrs on September 21 and arrive in Gulbarga at 04.15 hrs the next day. In the return direction, the train will depart from Gulbarga at 05.25 hrs on September 22 and arrive in Hyderabad at 11.30 hrs on the same day. The Hyderabad-Gulbarga special train will depart from Hyderabad at 05.30 hrs on September 25 and arrive in Gulbarga at 11.20 hrs the same day.In the return direction, it will depart from Gulbarga at 12.35 hrs on September 25 and arrive in Hyderabad at 18.35 hrs on the same day.Meanwhile the SCR will run eight special trains between Secunderabad and Machilipatnam and eight special trains between Hyderabad and Renigunta.

Secunderabad-Machilipatnam special train will depart from Secunderabad at 10.30 hrs on October 6,13, 20 and 27 (Sundays) and arrive in Machilipatnam at 19.30 hrs on the same day. In the return direction the train will depart from Machilipatnam at 21.30 hrs on October 6,13, 20 and 27 (Sundays) and arrive in Secunderabad at 05.55 hrs the next day.

Narsapur, Nagarsol train 4 days a week

The frequency of Narsapur-Nagarsol express has been increased to four days a week from the present twice a week. Accordingly, the train will depart from Narsapur on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays with effect from September 25.

In the return direction, it will depart from Nagarsol on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays with effect from September 26.

Timings revised

Timings of Mannmad-Kacheguda passenger train will be  revised with effect from September 23. Accordingly, the revised timings, the train will depart from  Manmad at 05.20 hrs. There will be no change in train timings beyond Aurangabad and the train will arrive in Kacheguda at 22.30 hrs.

दौसा. रेलवे स्टेशन पर ट्रेनों के ठहराव व सुविधाओं की मांग का ज्ञापन देते लोग।

दौसा. आखिरकार ट्रेन सुविधा बढ़ाने की मांग के समर्थन का पहल करते हुए सबसे पहले खंडेलवाल मार्केट व्यापार संघ आगे आया है। संघ ने दौसा स्टेशन पर नई ट्रेनों का ठहराव, मीठे पानी की व्यवस्था करने, स्टेशन परिसर में मुख्य द्वार के पास सुलभ शौचालय बनाने तथा प्लेटफार्म नंबर 2 पर कोच इंडिकेशन बॉक्स लगाने की मांग उठाई है। मांग के समर्थन में रेल महाप्रबंधक को ज्ञापन भेजा है।

दौसा में ट्रेन सुविधाओं की कमी और बिना हाथ-पैर हिलाए सुविधा मिलने जैसी लोगों की मानसिकता से संबंधित खबर दैनिक भास्कर में 20 सितंबर के अंक में प्रकाशित हुई थी। 'दौसा में भी हो रेवाड़ी जैसी ट्रेन सुविधाएं' शीर्षक से खबर छपने के दूसरे दिन शनिवार को खंडेलवाल मार्केट व्यापार संघ आगे आया।

संघ ने भास्कर की खबर से प्रभावित होकर दौसा में अहमदाबाद-हरिद्वार मेल, अजमेर-किशनगंज एक्सप्रेस, ओखा-देहरादून, जयपुर-सराय रोहिल्ला दिल्ली डबल डेकर ट्रेन, बांद्रा- सराय रोहिल्ला दिल्ली गरीब रथ, अजमेर-सियालादाह एक्सप्रेस ट्रेन के ठहराव की मांग उठाई है। मांग के समर्थन में रेलवे महाप्रबंधक को ज्ञापन भेजने वालों में कैलाश चंद ठाकुरिया, गौरी शंकर चांदराना, संजय घीया, पंकज गोठड़ा, दामोदर प्रसाद, निदेश शादरा, राहुल खंडेलवाल विक्की, आलोक जैन, ओमप्रकाश गोठड़ा, राजेश ठाकुरिया, रामावतार आदि हैं।

PATNA: Railways has decided to allow a two-minute stoppage of Patna-Hatia Express, Rajendra Nagar Terminal-Hatia Express, Patna-Sasaram Intercity Express and Patna-Barkakhana Palamu Express at Punpun Ghat on Patna-Gaya section during ‘Pitrapaksha Mela’ from September 18 to October 5, said ECR CPRO Amitabh Prabhakar.

Special train: Railways will run a special train (01709/01710) between Gaya and Jabalpur to clear passengers rush during Pitrapaksha mela in Gaya. The special train will leave Jabalpur on September 21 and 28 while it will originate from Gaya on September 22 and 29. It will have the load combination of 21 coaches, including AC2 (one), AC 3 (three), sleeper (11), general (four) and brake vans (two). The train will leave Gaya at 5pm and reach Jabalpur at 5.30 next morning.

Coach Factory at Sonia’s constituency proving to be White Elephant for Railways
LUCKNOW: The.2500 Crore Rail Coach Factory in Sonia Gandhi’s constituency Rae Bareli is proving to be a white elephant for railways. Even after three years of production, the factory has only two shells (the empty coach without the bogey and interiors) to call its own.

Railway ministry has sanctioned Rs.650 crore to the Rail Coach Factory (RCF) in 2013-14. But, so far the factory has rolled out only two shells and 25 assembled coaches. There has been no production since June when 12-odd coaches were assembled.

The main reason cited for limping production is Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala, decision to back off from its commitment to supply raw material to Rae Bareli factory in the initial years. “The target was to produce 150 coaches this year but not more than 25 coaches have been rolled out,” said sources.

Even after three years, the factory has not become self-reliant in procuring raw material and rolling out coaches, entirely manufactured on its premises. “RCF Kapurthala says it’s time Rae Bareli factory starts its own production. They have to float tenders to procure raw material to us as well,” added sources. But, Rae Bareli factory is still lagging behind despite several assurances from the railway ministry to fast-track the project.

The project has also been hit by split management. The factory is managed through three offices headquarters at Delhi, local office in Lucknow and the small set up at Lalganj in Rae Bareli.

The factory was set up to bridge the gap between the demand and supply of coaches. It was to roll out 1,000 LHB coaches every year. But major chunk of the factory’s budget sanctioned by railway ministry goes in paying salary to its 40 officers and about 1,100 staff.

Besides, Rs 12 to 13 lakh extra is spent on the transportation of raw material like seats, wheels, paints, bathroom fittings and other accessories during every consignment. “The raw material is to be provided as and when required. However, for past two months we are not getting it,” said sources.

Rae Bareli factory has to manufacture only LHB coaches. Railways incurs about Rs 2.73 crore in manufacturing a single AC-3 tier LHB coach and Rs 2.63 crore for an AC-2 tier LHB coach. LHB is a light weight coach based on German technology that improves the speed of a train. It is the latest requirement of Indian Railway.

Three years after it started production, only 113-odd coaches have been assembled at Rae Braeli. The factory has not made a single coach indigenously so far. It rolled out 18 coaches in 2011-12 and 70 in 2012-13.

Initially, the project was delayed due to political apathy as the railway ministry was headed by Mamata Banerjee. The factory was not given more than Rs 100 crore as annual budget then, said sources. The factory has failed to meet its production deadline several times after inauguration in 2007.

Things improved when Pawan Bansal took over as the railway minister. A big sum was sanctioned to the factory in this year’s rail budget.

The factory’s administrative block has to be shifted to Rae Bareli by next month. But, that seems unlikely given the sluggish pace of work.

What ails Rae Bareli rail coach factory?
* Factory has failed to get self-reliant over the past three years
* RCF Kapurthala is showing disinterest in providing raw material
* Factory is managed through three offices in Delhi, Lucknow and Rae Bareli
* Everyday management of the factory is getting affected due to split offices
* Ancillary units have not started
* 1000-strong staff are underemployed at factory
* Major portion of annual budget of the factory goes in paying salaries

Cancellation of Three More Trains Due to Derailment of a Coach of Kanyakumari-Howrah Express Between Sri Venkateshwarapalem and Kavali Stations

      Due to derailment of front SLR (Second Class Luggage cum Brake Van Coach) of T.No. 12666 Kanniyakumari-Howrah Express  between Srivenkateswarapalem and Kavali stations o­n Gudur-Vijayawada section of Vijayawada Division of SCR o­n 22nd, September, 2013,  the following trains are cancelled.





1. T.No.57238Vijayawada– Kazipet Passenger, scheduled to leaveVijayawadaat 12.45 hrs o­n22.09.2013(Today) is cancelled.

2. T.No.57242Vijayawada– Bitragunta Passenger, scheduled to leaveVijayawadaat 15.15 hrs o­n22.09.2013(Today) is cancelled.

3. T.No.57237 Kazipet – Vijayawada Passenger,  scheduled to leaveKazipet at 04.00 hrs o­n23.09.2013is cancelled.

NASHIK: The pre-launch run of the Rajdhani-like, fully air-conditioned train from Mumbai to Delhi via Nashik, on Central Railway, has been scheduled for Tuesday.

The bookings for the train - announced as a special train running between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) Kurla and Hazrat Nizamuddin, New Delhi on Tuesday and running back to Kurla on Wednesday (September 25) - will begin on September 21. No schedule has been announced for the train in the following week yet.
Central Railway official said that it is likely that the train - promised in the 2013 railway budget - could be inaugurated formally on its way back to Mumbai on Wednesday.

The rake is equipped with a first AC coach, three second AC coaches, 10 third AC coaches and two end-on-generation (EoG) coaches, quite like the configuration of the Rajdhani Express, to cover the 1,520km journey in 19.5 hours from Mumbai to Delhi. The train will have six intermediate halts - at Nashik Road, Bhusawal, Bhopal, Jhansi, Gwalior and Agra Cantonment - before reaching its destination.

Given that the originating station of the train is LTT and the rake will have to be taken to New Delhi for a formal inauguration, it is likely that this will be utilised as a special train (02109 Dn) during the journey, railway officials said.

"Though there is no confirmation, it is likely that the train will be inaugurated at the Hazrat Nizamuddin station in New Delhi. This may be announced on Monday, after which the number of the train from Delhi to LTT - 02110 Up - may be upgraded, with a regular number and announcement of further schedules," a Central Railway official said.

The train would halt at Bhopal station for 10 minutes on both its journeys, while the duration of its halt in other stations would be from 2 to 5 minutes.

The train will be the fourth direct train to the capital via Nashik and the first Rajdhani-like train on the tracks of Central Railway. Central Railway has been lacking in a train that would reach New Delhi in the shortest possible time period. Western Railway runs the Rajdhani Express that leaves Mumbai Central at 14.30 to reach Delhi at 8.30 the next day.

"This train will be beneficial to commuters from Nashik and Bhusawal areas travelling to Gwalior and Agra Cantonment," the official said.