PATNA: 12 Feb, 2007 , Although the railway budget for the year 2007-2008 is to be presented in the Lok Sabha by railway minister Lalu Prasad later this month, about nine new trains are yet to be introduced from different divisions of ECR. Lalu had announced 15 new trains for Bihar in the rail budget 2006-2007 of which only six new trains, including fully AC Garib Rath, have been introduced so far from ECR. According to an ECR official, the new trains which are yet to be introduced in the ECR include Patna-Azimabad Ahmedabad Express (weekly), Patna-Nanded (Pune weekly), Patna-Mathura (three days), Danapur Guwahati (four days), Howrah-Darbhanga (bi-weekly), Muzaffarpur-Howrah (weekly), Sonepur-Jammu Tavi (weekly), Darbhanga-Bangalore (weekly) and Sonepur-Valsad (weekly). He said the railways have been working out details for their introduction either this month or next month. According to sources, the railways had announced earlier that the Darbhanga-Bangalore Express would run once a week via Patna and Chennai while the Mathura-Lucknow Express running via Faizabad and Varanasi is proposed to be extended up to Patna for three days a week to cater to the needs of passengers. Similarly, the Capital Express currently running between Danapur and New Jailpaiguri, is proposed to be extended up to Guwahati for four days, sources said adding that the Lokmanya Tilak Muzaffarpur Express is also proposed to be extended up to Raxaul. Unfortunately, all these announcements of the current rail budget have not been fulfilled by the railways for one reason or the other. Lalu had also announced to introduce the LHB German coaches in all super-fast trains by replacing the existing ICF coaches. The new German coaches are now being designed and manufactured in the country itself. The greatest advantage of these coaches is that they are more safety oriented and would provide more comfort to the passengers. In case of any mishap these coaches would never tumble down or jump off the tracks, sources said. According to Danapur DRM Pankaj Jain, the division has not received any formal communication so far from the headquarters or the Railway Board with regard to introducing new proposed trains from Patna. However, the division is fully prepared to run these new trains in the larger interest of the common people, he said. Meanwhile, a senior ECR official said traffic has increased by about 15 per cent during the last three years. There has been no addition to number of suburban trains, particularly on the mainline route of Danapur division. Even the carrying capacity of each DEMU and MEMU train has been reduced to 10 to 12 bogies. Thus, the local passenger trains remain over-crowded causing great difficulty to passengers commuting daily between Jhajha-Patna and Patna-Buxar routes of the division. He, however, stressed the need to increase number of bogies in each DEMU and MEMU train.
Monday, February 12, 2007
1 yr on, Lalu's 9 new trains yet to chug off
PATNA: 12 Feb, 2007 , Although the railway budget for the year 2007-2008 is to be presented in the Lok Sabha by railway minister Lalu Prasad later this month, about nine new trains are yet to be introduced from different divisions of ECR. Lalu had announced 15 new trains for Bihar in the rail budget 2006-2007 of which only six new trains, including fully AC Garib Rath, have been introduced so far from ECR. According to an ECR official, the new trains which are yet to be introduced in the ECR include Patna-Azimabad Ahmedabad Express (weekly), Patna-Nanded (Pune weekly), Patna-Mathura (three days), Danapur Guwahati (four days), Howrah-Darbhanga (bi-weekly), Muzaffarpur-Howrah (weekly), Sonepur-Jammu Tavi (weekly), Darbhanga-Bangalore (weekly) and Sonepur-Valsad (weekly). He said the railways have been working out details for their introduction either this month or next month. According to sources, the railways had announced earlier that the Darbhanga-Bangalore Express would run once a week via Patna and Chennai while the Mathura-Lucknow Express running via Faizabad and Varanasi is proposed to be extended up to Patna for three days a week to cater to the needs of passengers. Similarly, the Capital Express currently running between Danapur and New Jailpaiguri, is proposed to be extended up to Guwahati for four days, sources said adding that the Lokmanya Tilak Muzaffarpur Express is also proposed to be extended up to Raxaul. Unfortunately, all these announcements of the current rail budget have not been fulfilled by the railways for one reason or the other. Lalu had also announced to introduce the LHB German coaches in all super-fast trains by replacing the existing ICF coaches. The new German coaches are now being designed and manufactured in the country itself. The greatest advantage of these coaches is that they are more safety oriented and would provide more comfort to the passengers. In case of any mishap these coaches would never tumble down or jump off the tracks, sources said. According to Danapur DRM Pankaj Jain, the division has not received any formal communication so far from the headquarters or the Railway Board with regard to introducing new proposed trains from Patna. However, the division is fully prepared to run these new trains in the larger interest of the common people, he said. Meanwhile, a senior ECR official said traffic has increased by about 15 per cent during the last three years. There has been no addition to number of suburban trains, particularly on the mainline route of Danapur division. Even the carrying capacity of each DEMU and MEMU train has been reduced to 10 to 12 bogies. Thus, the local passenger trains remain over-crowded causing great difficulty to passengers commuting daily between Jhajha-Patna and Patna-Buxar routes of the division. He, however, stressed the need to increase number of bogies in each DEMU and MEMU train.
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