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Railways will use natural gas as fuel, Railway minister Mallikarjun Kharge has said.

Railways have taken up various projects for the development of required technology to be used in locomotives, he said.

“In a move to adopt environment friendly and cost effective alternate fuel, the Indian Railways has taken up various projects on utilization of natural gas as fuel for its fleet of diesel locomotives,” he said while addressing International Rail Conference organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII). He added that the Research Design and Standard Organisation (RDSO) is also actively working on developing highly fuel efficient diesel locomotives. “Indian Railways has taken a global lead in starting development of the Common Rail Electronic Direct Fuel Injection system for its fleet of diesel locomotives,” he added.

Kharge invited industrialists for big investments and welcomed FDI. He elaborated how Railways is working towards modernising its core sectors. He referred to Dedicated Freight Corridor (DFC) and High Speed Corridors and new generation locomotives.

“Freight terminals, parts of the DFC, re-development of stations and elevated Rail Corridor in Mumbai are areas proposed for private investment during the 12th Plan period,” he said.

MANGALORE: The Southern Railway has increased the stoppage timings of following trains at Feroke station up to October 9 and from October 31 up to November 15 for the benefit of Haj pilgrims. They are: train No. 16629 Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore Malabar Express which will leave Feroke at 4.27am; train No. 16630 Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Malabar Express at 11.22pm; train No. 16605 Mangalore-Nagercoil Ernad Express at 11.57am; and train No. 16606 Nagercoil-Mangalore Ernad Express at 12.12pmLikewise, train no.16347 Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore Express will depart Feroke at 5.45am; 16348 Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Express at 7.07pm; 16649 Mangalore-Nagercoil Parasuram Express at 9.22am; 16650 Nagercoil-Mangalore Parasuram Express at 3.17pm; 12617 Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express (monsoon) at 2.37pm; 12617 Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express (non-monsoon) at 5.07pm.

Train No.12618 Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Express (monsoon) will leave at 7.27am; 12618 Nizamuddin-Ernakulam Mangala Express (non monsoon) at 5.17am; 16333 Veraval-Thiruvananthapuram Express (monsoon) at 8.47pm; 16333 Veraval-Thiruvananthapuram Express (non-monsoon) at 6.02pm; 16335 Gandhidham -Nagercoil Express (monsoon) at 8.47pm; 16335 Gandhidham-Nagercoil Express (non-monsoon) at 6.02 pm.

Train No. 16337 Okha-Ernakulam Express (monsoon) will leave Feroke at 8.47pm; 16337 Okha Ernakulam Express (non monsoon) at 6.02pm; 16334 Thiruvananthapuram-Veraval Express at 11.57pm; 16336 Nagercoil-Gandhidham Express at 11.57pm; 16338 Ernakulam-Okha Express at 11.57pm; 12601 Chennai Central-Mangalore Central Mail 7.24am; 12602 Mangalore Central-Chennai Central Mail at 5.37pm.

Train 16859 Chennai Egmore-Mangalore Central Express will depart Feroke at 3.52pm; 16860 Mangalore Central-Chennai Egmore Express at 11.32am; 16307 Alappuzha-Kannur Express at 8.42pm; 16308 Kannur-Alappuzha Express at 6.52am. Trains 16313 Ernakulam-Kannur Express leaving Ernakulam on October 3, 5, 31, and November 2, 7, 9 and 14 will leave Feroke station at 8.42pm. Train 16314 Kannur-Ernakulam Express leaving Kannur on October 3, 5, 31, and November 2, 7, 9 and 14 will leave Feroke station at 6.52am.

Train timings: The Road Over bridge work at Devathar Level crossing gate, between Tanur and Tirur stations has not been completed. Hence the line block is extended up to October 5. The pattern of train service on October 5 is as follows: Train No. 56324 Mangalore Central-Pallippuram Passenger Special will be terminated at Kozhikode and will run as 56323 Passenger Special from Kozhikode to Mangalore Central. Trains 12617 Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala Express, 16650 Nageroil-Mangalore Parasuram Express and 12202 Kochuveli - Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Garib Rath Express will be regulated for 15 minutes between Shoranur and Tirur stations.

Trains to be regulated: Due to non-interlocked working at Shoranur, there will be a five hour block on the route for signal remodelling work from 9.15 am to 2.15 pm from October 6 and 7. Consequently trains on the Mangalore route towards Kerala and Chennai would be regulated from 45 minutes to three hours. There will also be partial cancellation of some trains.

The trains that will be regulated on Sunday are: Train No.16649 Mangalore Central - Nagarcoil Parasuram Express to be regulated enroute for 240 minutes; Train No.16650 Nagarcoil - Mangalore Central Parasuram Express to be regulated in Thiruvananthapuram Division for 45 minutes; Train No.16345 Lokmanya Tilak - Thiruvananthapuram Central Netravathi Express to be regulated enroute for 175 minutes and Train No.12998 Hapa- Tirunelveli Express to be regulated enroute for 210 minutes.

The trains that will be regulated on Monday are: Train No.16650 Nagarcoil - Mangalore Central Parasuram Express will be regulated in Thiruvananthapuram Division for 120 minutes.

Train traffic through the new broad gauge line between Palakkad and Pollachi is likely to be delayed further owing to delay in construction of a railway bridge across the Yakkara river.Palakkad Railway Divisional Manager Piyus Agarwal had announced at a press conference last week that trains would start services through the new broad gauge line by March next.When the meter gauge rail line was dismantled for broad gauge conversion in December 2008, the Railway authorities had promised that the work would be completed in 16 months and train services from Palakkad to Palani would be resumed.Sources in the railways said the services are likely to begin only by September next.

Work on only two of the four pillars across the river has been completed.

Monsoon

Construction work was delayed owing to heavy rain during the southwest monsoon from June to September.

Work on the remaining two pillars can be completed only by August next, sources said.

Officials of the company that has taken up the contract said work can be taken up only after the northeast monsoon (October-November). The project is estimated to cost Rs. 10.8 crore. Work on the Palani-Pollachi stretch of the railway line in Tamil Nadu has been completed and trains have started running on an experimental basis.

From a bogey made of wooden slats, Gandhiji is stepping out on the platform in Champaran, Bihar. The roman numeral III is clearly imprinted on the coach. Gandhiji frequently travelled third-class.Many a freedom fighter and leader travelled the length and breadth of India, building a nation that would later call for freedom. The Railways thus played a crucial role in the Independence struggle.A weeklong exhibition at the Bharatiya Nritya Kala Mandir — to celebrate the completion of 160 years for the Indian Railways and 11 years for the East Central Railway — has delicately captured the nation-building effort through a range of memorable photographs. The collection is not just a record of its achievements in its lifetime, but also a rich source that tells the story of a nation from its inception.Photographs of Jawaharlal Nehru’s visit to Darbhanga, Bihar, him inaugurating the Quilon-Ernakulam line and the children’s train at Bal Bhavan in New Delhi and what is presumably the “last photograph” of Subhash Chandra Bose are also on display. A picture of a special refugee train at Ambala railway station is a poignant depiction of the plight of refugees from Pakistan. The train is overflowing with people, even its roof packed to capacity.

“The Railway was established in 1825 in the United Kingdom in 1825 and in India in 1853. It has played a very big role in establishing India as a nation,” said R.K. Singh, publicity inspector, ECR.

“Before the advent of the British, India was a collection on princely States. The British certainly had a colonial motive of building the Railway. They wanted it for the movement of the Army and raw material. But the Railway helped in the spread of Indian nationalism. Political leaders could travel and propagate the idea of exploitation. It helped in creating a national consciousness,” Mr. Singh said.

The collection also gives a rare glimpse into the lives of the erstwhile princes. There are pictures of the salon wagons of the Maharaja of Darbhanga and the Maharaja Sayajirao Gaekwad of Baroda. The special wagon would be attached to the train whenever the Maharaja of Darbhanga travelled.

Divided into several chapters, such as ‘Locomotive and Trains’, ‘Carriages and Wagons’, ‘Station Architecture’, ‘Railway Stations — Centres of Towns’, ‘Passenger Amenities’ and ‘Bridges and Tunnels’, the exhibition is a veritable joyride on the tracks of time.

The chapter on station architecture is brings you the familiar sights of railway stations with local architectural influences, such as Egmore, Guruvayur, Madras, Kachiguda, Bikaner, Byculla, Victoria Terminus (old name) and others.

The Bikaner-Jodhpur railways lines were a joint effort of the Maharajas of these two places, who built the railway to alleviate the distress of the people during famines.

On a lighter note, highlighting the plight of a passenger is the famous hilarious letter by an Okhil Chandra Sen to the Sahibganj divisional office in West Bengal, where he talks about missing his train while attending the nature’s call.

Conceived by the ECR’s public relations department, the exhibition also includes models of the tools and implements used by the Railways over the years, passenger amenities, coaches and plans of upcoming projects.

Train traffic through the new broad gauge line between Palakkad and Pollachi is likely to be delayed further owing to delay in construction of a railway bridge across the Yakkara river.Palakkad Railway Divisional Manager Piyus Agarwal had announced at a press conference last week that trains would start services through the new broad gauge line by March next.When the meter gauge rail line was dismantled for broad gauge conversion in December 2008, the Railway authorities had promised that the work would be completed in 16 months and train services from Palakkad to Palani would be resumed.Sources in the railways said the services are likely to begin only by September next.

Work on only two of the four pillars across the river has been completed.

Monsoon

Construction work was delayed owing to heavy rain during the southwest monsoon from June to September.

Work on the remaining two pillars can be completed only by August next, sources said.

Officials of the company that has taken up the contract said work can be taken up only after the northeast monsoon (October-November). The project is estimated to cost Rs. 10.8 crore. Work on the Palani-Pollachi stretch of the railway line in Tamil Nadu has been completed and trains have started running on an experimental basis.

Former member of the Zonal Railway Users’ Consultative Committee S. Chinnappa has urged the Railways to construct a road under-bridge at the railway level-crossing on Savalanga Road in the city.Mr. Chinnappa, in a press release, said the traffic along Savalanga Road, that connects Shimoga city with Shikaripur and Honnali towns, gets disrupted whenever the gates are brought down at the level-crossing. The problem can be addressed by constructing a road under-bridge, he said.

Railway station

He also demanded construction of a railway station near Surya Extension in the city. The residents of Vinobha Nagar, Sominakoppa, J.H. Patel Extension will benefit from such a move, he said.

Mr. Chinnappa has said that, rail link between Shimoga and Harihar would ensure easy access to Mumbai for people of Malnad region. The Department of Railways should commence the work at the earliest. He also has demanded the Department of Railway to open a ticket reservation counter at Vinobha Nagar locality. Mr. Chinnappa has submitted a memorandum in this regard to Chalavadi Narayanaswamy, President of Indian Railway Board(Passenger Services) during the later’s visit to Shimoga city on Thursday.


Traffic along Savalanga Road gets disrupted because of lowering of gate

Bathinda:
Bathinda junction’s wait for a long-term solution to its sanitation worries got a little longer today when senior officials at Ambala said that the finalisation of the tender would take at least two months.Gulshan, senior divisional commercial manager (SDCM), Ambala division, along with some other officials, visited the Bathinda railway station today and took a stock of the sanitation situation. Although chief commercial manager general Vidya Sinha was scheduled to visit the station, she had to terminate her visit. Though close to 20 cleaners and sweepers were sent from Dhuri, Saharanpur, Ambala and Kalka and close to 15 men were hired by the junction authorities to clean up the station before the visit, the officials looked dissatisfied with the condition of the station. Despite sprinkling of DDT and other insecticides, foul smell emanated from the tracks. Discussing the situation, the SDCM told the authorities that the clearance of tender would take at least two more months because of some “technical problems”. He added that till then the authorities could initiate the work of inviting quotations to give the contract to a firm on a monthly basis.Interestingly, the earlier contract had ended on August 25 and the authorities had floated a new tender on August 12. When asked why the tender was floated earlier, the SDCM said, “We had floated a tender sometimes ago, but it had to be discharged for the non-compliance of rules and regulations. A minimum gap of at least 45 needs to be given before floating a tender.”

“There were inevitable technical issue due to which the tender couldn’t be completed in time. Till the time the work is handed over to a firm for three years, we have asked the junction authorities to hire private firms to clean up the station,” he added.

Meanwhile, the junction authorities are managing the situation precariously. “We hire at least 10 sweepers to clean up the washable aprons and tracks everyday. They are being paid wages at the rate of Rs 219. An additional four workers of the medical department are responsible for sweeping the offices and railway platforms,” said the station superintendent, Pradeep Sharma.

He also said that the situation could have been better, if people had some civic sense. He also pointed out that the exit passageway near the railway ticket booking counter was being used by the public as open urinal. “Since there is no fine, people litter every nook and corner of the station and then complain of the sanitation situation. We all can play our part in keeping the place clean,” he said.

Mohali: Amid cheers, the Hazoor Sahib Superfast Express halted at the Mohali railway station for 10 minutes this evening.The train arrived at 6.30 pm and left at 6.40 pm. Over 2,500 residents, area MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu and religious leaders turned up at the station.Meals, arranged by Gurdwara Singh Shaheedan, Gurdwara Bibi Bhani and Gurdwara Sachcha Dhan, were served to gurdwaras. Eighteen passengers boarded the train from Mohali. Fatehgarh Sahib-based Khushal Singh said it would be a special journey.Kurali resident Niranjan Singh said, "Thousands of devotees visited the gurdwara every year. The move has cheered the residents."Echoing similar sentiments, Kharar-residents Amarjit, his wife Karnail Kaur and Mohali residents Kashmir Singh and his wife Amrik Kaur said there was a mad scramble for tickets and the train would attract a large number of passengers in the coming days.The train should run thrice a week," said Kashmir Singh. Congress MLA Balbir Singh Sidhu said the residents were happy with the move.Station master MC Gupta said the train would reach Mohali at 6.38 pm every Thursday and leave for Hazoor Sahib at 6.40 pm.On its return journey, the train would reach the town at 6.12 pm every Sunday, he said.

Train services at Canning section of Sealdah south section was disrupted for five hours today due to passengers' agitation alleging late running of trains. Railway officials said the driver of an early morning train being ill couldn't remember where he had kept the keys and so the train was delayed.When the 6:30 a.m. Up Canning local got delayed in leaving the Canning station due to the loss of keys, the daily passengers started an agitation in the platform and put up a rail block demanding immediate departure of the train.

The driver took 15 minutes to find the keys, but when the train was ready to leave the station the passengers continued to block its passage. The blockade spread to Betberia and Ghola stations also. 

In the meantime, railway officials took the decision to turn back all Canningbound trains to Sealdah from Champahati station. Then the passengers who were going to Canning started a blockade at Champahati station. 

The agitation continued for five hours and at 11:30 a.m. and after the intervention of higher officials the trains in that section started running as usual.

PATNA: The commissioning of newly built Patliputra railway station has been delayed several times for one reason or the other despite getting clearance from commissioner of railway safety (CRS), eastern region, R P Yadav.Railways had already announced two or three dates for the commissioning of this station to streamline train traffic in Danapur division of the ECR.According to sources, the residents of Jalalpur under Rupaspur police station area are demanding a separate road over Khagaul canal to reach Bailey Road easily. Dinesh Kumar, a resident of Jalalpur, said people of the village and its adjoining areas would find it difficult to reach Bailey Road if railways closes the approach road for the traffic from Patliputra station to Danapur or Patna Junction via Phulwari.According to Kumar, JD (U) leader and Patliputra MP Ranjan Yadav has taken up their problems with the railway authorities. However, no concrete decision has been taken so far. "Unless railways provides them a separate approach road to Bailey Road from Khagaul canal side, they would not allow Patliputra station to be made functional," he said.According to ECR CPRO Amitabh Prabhakar, railways would sort out the problems soon. Moreover, the newly built station is likely to benefit the common people most, he said.Built at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore as part of the Digha Ganga rail bridge located on Bailey Road near Rukunpura, railways intends to run two pairs of passenger trains from this station. In future, four pairs of passenger trains would originate from here for Delhi and Howrah. Patliputra station has been given a direct connectivity to both Danapur and Phulwari-Patna end to ease traffic flow, an ECR official said, adding that Danapur station would become a junction point after commissioning of Patliputra station.

Though Patliputra station is having three platforms now, there is a provision to increase their number to cope with passengers rush. As per the new plan, railways would develop it as a terminal point in future. Railways has already announced that it would build a separate washing pit at this station so that maintenance work of passenger train rakes could be carried out there smoothly, sources said.

According to sources, railways has not yet decided any new date for the commissioning of Patliputra station. Had it been made functional, it could have eased huge traffic from Patna Junction and Danapur station during festivals, sources said.