ProUI

Kochi: The newly-launched Punalur-Guruvayur fast passenger train service is a hit among passengers and the railways is considering a proposal to introduce two sleeper coaches in the daily train running at peak hour.

Kodikunnil Suresh MP “The Madurai divisional railway manager has forwarded the proposal to the Southern Railway headquarters, Chennai.

The Railway Board is likely to give its nod soon. Already, the Madurai-Kollam passenger has the reservation facility”.

The initiative was taken in the wake of many enquiries, particularly from elderly people, travelling to Guruvayur.

The timing is convenient for devotees to avoid overnight stay and is useful for office-goers.

The train covers the Thrissur-Kottayam stretch in the morning peak hour, said Suresh, who is also the minister of state for labour.

The train covers 294.6 km and has 27 halts. Train No 56366 Punalur-Guruvayur departs at 5.30 p.m. and arrives at the destination at 2.15 a.m.

Similarly, Train No 56365 Guruvayur-Punalur departs from Guruvayur at 6 a.m. and reaches the destination at 2.30 p.m.

The Southern Railway will run special trains between Kochuveli and Bangalore City as well as between Thiruvanathapuram Central and Chennai Central to meet the rush during puja season.
    Kochuveli – Bangalore City Special Train (train no. 06314), will run on October 3, 17 and 31. This train will leave Kochuveli at 8.15 pm on Thursdays and will reach Bangalore City at 1.50 pm on Fridays. In the return direction, Bangalore City-Kochuveli Special Train (train no. 06313) will run on Fridays on October 4 and 18.
    This train will leave Bangalore City at 3.20 pm on Fridays and will reach Kochuveli at 10.30 am on Saturdays.
    These trains will have one 2-tier AC, two 3- tier AC, four sleeper class, six second class chair car, four general second class and two luggage-cum-brake vans.
    These trains will stop at Kollam, Kayamkulam, Mavelikkara, Chengannur, Tiruvalla, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Aluva, Thrissur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Dharmapuri, Hosur and Bangalore stations.
    The Thiruvananthapuram Central-Chennai Central Special Train (train no. 06312) will leave on Wednesdays at 8.05 pm from October 2 to 22 and will reach Chennai Central at 1.15 pm the next day.
    In the return direction, Chennai Central-Thiruvananthapuram Central Special Train (train no. 06312) will leave on Thursdays from October 3 to 23 and will reach Thiruvananthapuram Central at 11.45 am on the next day.

Though the first phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail is expected to become operational in March 2015, people now have a chance to feel and experience the coach they will be travelling in. A model coach, which is half the size of the actual coach, is on public display at Necklace Road on the banks of Hussain Sagar in the heart of Hyderabad. It will be kept for a month. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Wednesday unveiled the coach built by Hyundai-Rotem consortium in South Korea for the 72-km-long elevated rail project. He said Rs.14,132 crore project was one of the biggest projects in the world in Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. "Metro Rail will be become one the jewels of Hyderabad and will add value to the city," the chief minister said. The fully air-conditioned coach has been designed with the advanced Communication Based Train Control (CBTC) system, which will be used for the first time by any metro in the country. V. B. Gadgil, Chief Executive and Managing Director, L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (LTMRHL), told reporters that "the latest, safe and reliable technology" would enable trains to "talk to each other" by indicating their position. Though the system is designed to run the trains at 80 km per hour, the actual speed will be 38-40 kmph due to stoppages at stations and curves. LTMRHL has ordered 171 coaches for the project, which comprises three corridors. "To start with we will run three-car trains. As the ridership improves, we will run six-car trains," said Gadgil. Using the advanced radio based technology, two trains can be run with a difference of one-and-half minute. "Initially we will run with the frequency of three to five minutes. Later we will reduce it to two minutes and if required we can reduce it to one-and-half minute," said N.V.S. Reddy, Managing Director, Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL). Reddy said each six-car train will ferry more than 2,000 people. "It means 60,000 passengers can travel per direction per hour and 120,000 people on both directions. It is a huge mass rapid transit system," he added. Gadgil was confident of running the trains on the first stage of the project from March 2015. Reddy said by launching services on the eight kilometer stretch from Nagole to Mettuguda, they want to give it as a 'Ugadi' gift to people of Hyderabad. The delivery of the coaches will start in May next year. All 21 coaches required for running seven trains on the eight km stretch will be available before the end of next year.

The railways ministry has decided to introduce Tatkal scheme in reserved classes of passenger trains too.A railway official informed that the scheme has been commenced in order to provide last minute reservations to people and to save them from unscrupulous touts.He added that at present, the scheme was available in almost all mail and express trains and in all reserved classes except the first class and first AC class."The scheme in the passenger trains will be available in the reserved classes including 2nd AC, 3rd AC, 3rd AC economy, chair class, sleeper class and 2nd reserved sitting".He added that the ministry has asked all the zonal railways to identify the passenger trains on which the scheme could be implemented."The zonal railways have been asked to check tatkal accommodation in the selected trains, in which average utilisation during the previous financial year has been more than 60%. The extent of accommodation to be earmarked will be the same as applicable in case of normal tatkal scheme. The minimum Tatkal charges prescribed for different classes will be applicable as flat Tatkal charges. The zonal railways will provide train specific notifications and date of effect of the scheme", he said.

All other conditions applicable to normal tatkal scheme would be applicable in case of identified passenger trains.

NEW DELHI: Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) has earned Rs 29 crore from its 80 non- railway catering outlets across the country in 2012-13, a jump of Rs 18 crore compared to previous year."We have now ventured into catering services, starting from food kiosks and cafeterias to food courts in the non- railway sector. There are about 80 such catering units in various government offices, educational institutions and other places," a senior IRCTC official said.Catering in train was primary business of IRCTC before 2010. However, railways decided to divest the corporation of its catering contracts in trains as per the new catering policy in 2010 and as a result IRCTC has to look for new ventures in the non-railway sector."We explored catering business in government offices and other institutions. Currently we have cafeterias in Shastri Bhawan (New Delhi), Writers' Building and Kolkata High Court (Kolkata), Bhilai Steel Plant, Bhabha Atomic Research Centre in Mumbai and in several other states as well," he said.IRCTC has also recently opened catering units at IIT- Chennai and Trivandrum Medical College, Delhi University, Vadodara Postal Training College, Cochin Info Park and Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow."We serve variety of food items starting from tea, snacks and other beverages to thali and meal combos in these outlets. People are happy to have hygienic food at affordable price," he said, adding "negotiations are on with some institutions to open cafeterias."

During 2012-13, IRCTC achieved a total income of Rs 719.69 crore with a gross profit of Rs 92.41 crore compared to a total income of Rs 554.11 crore with a gross profit of Rs 76.54 crore in 2011-12. The net worth of the corporation has also increased to Rs 291.77 crore from last year's Rs 246.70 crore.

South Central Railway will temporarily augment the following express trains with additional Coaches to clear the extra rush / waitlisted passengers as per the details mentioned below:-

1.Tr.No. 17018 Secunderabad- Rajkot Tri-Weekly Express will be augmented with one additional AC III Tier Coach o­n 1st, 5th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 19th October 2013.

2.Tr.No. 17017 Rajkot - Secunderabad Tri-Weekly Express will be augmented with one additional AC III Tier Coach o­n 3rd, 7th, 9th, 10th, 14th, 16th, 17th and21st October 2013.
3.Tr.No. 17002 Secunderabad - Sainagar Shirdi Express will be augmented with one additional AC III Tier Coach o­n 4th, 11th and 18thOctober 2013 (Fridays).
4.Tr.No. 17001 Sainagar Shirdi - Secunderabad Express will be augmented with one additional AC III Tier Coach o­n 5th, 12th and 19thOctober 2013 (Saturdays).
5.Tr.No. 17225 Vijayawada - Hubli Amaravathi Tri-Weekly Express will be augmented with two additional Sleeper Class Coaches o­n 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 17th, 19th, 21st, 24th, 26th, 28th and 31stOctober 2013.

6.Tr.No. 17226 Hubli - Vijayawada Amaravathi Tri-Weekly Express will be augmented with two additional Sleeper Class Coaches o­n 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 26th, 28th, 30th October and 2ndNovember 2013.


7.      Tr.No. 17208 Vijayawada - Sainagar Shirdi Weekly Express will be augmented with two additional Sleeper Class Coaches o­n 8th, 15th, 22ndand 29th October 2013 (Tuesdays).

8.      Tr.No. 17207 Sainagar Shirdi - Vijayawada Weekly Express will be augmented with two additional Sleeper Class Coaches o­n 9th, 16th, 23rdand 30th October 2013 (Wednesdays).

In all, 22 AC III Tier, 34­­­ Sleeper Class will be attached to the above trains.  These additional Coaches will make available 6,304 additional berths in order to clear extra rush and wait listed passengers.

In few days time Mumbai train commuters will see new trains on the Central and Western Railways.

From the old yellow and red trains to the new purple and white swanky trains, Mumbai's railways popularily known as the local trains have seen a great change in their look in the past two decades.Now, the new trains are set to be pink in colour to hide the paan stains. The new Mumbai train are currently in ICF, Chennai and will be in the city soon.The all-new local trains are expected to arrive in the city between October 8 and 10 and will then go into a three-month-long series of trials before it is inducted into the suburban system.

Here's a sneek peak at the new train:

The train can reach speeds of 130 kilometres per hour and will sport what is internationally called the straight sidewall concept. Coaches in India, including the suburban ones in Mumbai, are bell-shaped.

The straight sidewall concept, one that has adorned trains abroad for years now, is expected to make the train faster, thanks to better aerodynamics.

The train’s sides are straighter than the ‘bell’ shape that is distinctive of Indian trains.

The train will be powered by the Bombardier transportation electrical system and not the Siemens one that powers current locals.

The train will have blue handles.

The train seats look more comfortable.

South Central Railway will temporarily augment the following express trains with additional Coaches to clear the extra rush / waitlisted passengers as per the details mentioned below:-

1.Tr.No. 17018 Secunderabad- Rajkot Tri-Weekly Express will be augmented with one additional AC III Tier Coach o­n 1st, 5th, 7th, 8th, 12th, 14th, 15th and 19th October 2013.

2.Tr.No. 17017 Rajkot - Secunderabad Tri-Weekly Express will be augmented with one additional AC III Tier Coach o­n 3rd, 7th, 9th, 10th, 14th, 16th, 17th and21st October 2013.
3.Tr.No. 17002 Secunderabad - Sainagar Shirdi Express will be augmented with one additional AC III Tier Coach o­n 4th, 11th and 18thOctober 2013 (Fridays).
4.Tr.No. 17001 Sainagar Shirdi - Secunderabad Express will be augmented with one additional AC III Tier Coach o­n 5th, 12th and 19thOctober 2013 (Saturdays).
5.Tr.No. 17225 Vijayawada - Hubli Amaravathi Tri-Weekly Express will be augmented with two additional Sleeper Class Coaches o­n 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, 12th, 14th, 17th, 19th, 21st, 24th, 26th, 28th and 31stOctober 2013.

6.Tr.No. 17226 Hubli - Vijayawada Amaravathi Tri-Weekly Express will be augmented with two additional Sleeper Class Coaches o­n 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 19th, 21st, 23rd, 26th, 28th, 30th October and 2ndNovember 2013.


7.      Tr.No. 17208 Vijayawada - Sainagar Shirdi Weekly Express will be augmented with two additional Sleeper Class Coaches o­n 8th, 15th, 22ndand 29th October 2013 (Tuesdays).

8.      Tr.No. 17207 Sainagar Shirdi - Vijayawada Weekly Express will be augmented with two additional Sleeper Class Coaches o­n 9th, 16th, 23rdand 30th October 2013 (Wednesdays).

In all, 22 AC III Tier, 34­­­ Sleeper Class will be attached to the above trains.  These additional Coaches will make available 6,304 additional berths in order to clear extra rush and wait listed passengers.

Kochi: The newly-launched Punalur-Guruvayur fast passenger train service is a hit among passengers and the railways is considering a proposal to introduce two sleeper coaches in the daily train running at peak hour.

Kodikunnil Suresh MP “The Madurai divisional railway manager has forwarded the proposal to the Southern Railway headquarters, Chennai.

The Railway Board is likely to give its nod soon. Already, the Madurai-Kollam passenger has the reservation facility”.

The initiative was taken in the wake of many enquiries, particularly from elderly people, travelling to Guruvayur.

The timing is convenient for devotees to avoid overnight stay and is useful for office-goers.

The train covers the Thrissur-Kottayam stretch in the morning peak hour, said Suresh, who is also the minister of state for labour.

The train covers 294.6 km and has 27 halts. Train No 56366 Punalur-Guruvayur departs at 5.30 p.m. and arrives at the destination at 2.15 a.m.

Similarly, Train No 56365 Guruvayur-Punalur departs from Guruvayur at 6 a.m. and reaches the destination at 2.30 p.m.

Central Railway has decided to run 2 Air-conditioned Superfast special trains between Lokmanya Tilak Terminus and Hazarat Nizamuddin to clear the extra rush of passengers.The details are as under –

02109 AC Superfast special train will leave Lokmanya Tilak Terminus on Tuesday 08.10.2013 at 14.30 hrs and arrive Hazarat Nizamuddin at 10.20 hrs next day. 02110 AC Superfast special train will leave Hazarat Nizamuddin on Wednesday 09.10.2013 at 15.50 hrs and arrive Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 11.50 hrs next day.

Halts: Nasik Road, Bhusawal, Bhopal, Jhansi, Gwalior and Agra Cantonement.

Composition: one AC First Class, Three AC-2 tier, Ten AC-3 tier, 2 Generators cum guard’s brake vans and one Pantry car.

Reservation: Bookings for train No. 02109 open from 04.10.2013.