Title - Speed curb on trains via Jangalmahal to be lifted

KOLKATA/KHARAGPUR: Long-distance trains passing through Jangalmahal and other Maoist-affected areas in neighbouring Jharkhand at night may soon start running at 110 km per hour, as they used to before the Jnaneswari Express derailment on May 28, 2010.
According to sources in the South Eastern Railway (SER), security agencies of both the states have reviewed the present situation and given a positive response to a request by the railways to lift the 75 km per hour speed restriction imposed on the running of night trains.
“We hope to get clearance from the West Bengal and Jharkhand governments soon. The night trains should start running at their top speed of 110 km per hour by mid-September,” the source revealed after an inspection and meeting between railway officials and security agencies on Tuesday. After the Jnaneswari Express disaster, SER stopped running long-distance passenger-carrying trains along the important Kharagpur-Tatanagar, Kharagpur-Adra and Chakradharpur-Rourkela sections altogether.
Even after the night-running restrictions were lifted, SER decided to reduce the speed limit of trains to 75 km per hour. The idea was to enable the loco pilots to have more control on trains in case of blasts or other acts of sabotage. “I held a meeting with the IG, Western Range. I also went up to Gidnih and surveyed the situation on Tuesday. I am now waiting for the minutes of the meeting after which a report will be sent to the state government. The government will take a decision on whether to grant security clearances,” said Dilip Mitra, DG, railways, West Bengal.