New Delhi: In response to the increased passenger traffic during the festive season, the Indian Railways is running approximately 12,000 special trains on various routes across the country to reduce the hassle of ticketing and ensure easy travel to their hometowns. Meanwhile, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) is operating 367 special trains. On Tuesday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav reviewed the railway’s preparations. He also visited the New Delhi Railway Station to assess the arrangements made by the railways on the ground during the festive season.
A senior ECoR official stated that under the Railway Minister’s guidance, more than 12,000 special trains are operating across the country. The East Coast Railway is also operating 367 special trains. So far, 76 special trains have been launched, and more than 78,000 passengers have availed these trains. He said that RPF and other officials are present at all railway stations to ensure that no untoward incidents occur due to the crowds. He added that more than 900 CCTV cameras are operational at railway stations to monitor the situation.
Plans to Run 8,000 More Special Trains
The Chief Public Relations Officer of Northern Railway said in a statement that in view of the huge increase in passenger traffic during festivals like Chhath, the Railways is planning to run approximately 8,000 more special trains in the coming days.
Indian Railways is working at full capacity to ensure smooth and comfortable travel for passengers during the festive season. According to reports, in addition to regular train services, the Railways operated approximately 4,000 special trains between October 1 and October 19 to meet the increased travel demand during the festivals, and more than 10 million passengers travelled on these special trains.
Special trains are being run across all zones of Indian Railways, covering various routes, with Northern Railway operating 1,919 trains, Central Railway operating 1,998 trains, and Western Railway operating 1,501 trains. Additional train services have also been introduced by other zones, including 1,217 special trains in the East Central Railway zone and 1,217 in the North Western Railway zone, to meet regional travel needs, an official statement said.
For the convenience of passengers, the Railways has streamlined passenger movement management at stations, with the provision of dedicated holding areas, additional ticket counters, drinking water facilities, and clean toilets, ensuring a comfortable travel experience.
