Tag: Indian Railways

Amrit Bharat Express: Engines from Bengal, compartments made in Chennai, know all about newly launched train

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated two Amrit Bharat Expresses at Ayodhya on December 30, 2023. One Amrit Bharat train will run on the route from Ayodhya in Uttar Pradesh to Darbhanga in Bihar, while the other will travel between Malda in West Bengal and Bengaluru in Karnataka. The train, which will run at a speed of up to 130 km per hour, will be able to accommodate 1,834 people. It has also been designed taking into consideration the comfort and convenience of the passengers.

Amrit Bharat Express has two WAP-5 locomotive (push-pull) engines at the front and rear. The engines are manufactured at Chittaranjan Locomotive Works (CLW) in Chittaranjan, Asansol. A CLW official said, Amrita Bharat Express engines have been made aerodynamically keeping in mind the design of Vande Bharat. This special design of the engine will allow the train to run faster.  

Currently, Indian Railways uses this engine for all high-speed passenger trains. The 6,000-horsepower engine built by CLW for the Amrit Bharat Express can cover long distances very easily. The Amrit Bharat Express engines are also modernised by Chittaranjan Locomotive Works due to which loco pilots will not have any problem running the train.

On the other hand, the coaches are manufactured at the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai. Amrit Bharat has 22 non-AC rooms, due to which common people can travel at a low cost. The train has two baggage racks, eight general compartments for seated travel, and 12 sleeper compartments. The sealed gangway between the train compartments will provide safe movement and reduce noise and vibration. 

Moreover, passengers would not feel the jolt while sitting on the train due to the ‘Jerk Free Semi Permanent Coupler’. Ramps are also provided at the entrance of the train for the elderly or differently abled persons to board the train.

The passengers will not be required to use their hands while turning on the water faucet, as it can be pressed with their feet. According to the railway authorities, this will also reduce the injudicious use of water. The locomotive pilot’s seat is also designed in such a way that the track ahead is clearly visible. 

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Supreme Court seeks details from Centre on safety measures to protect against rail crashes

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Supreme Court on Tuesday, January 2, sought to know from the Centre about the protective measures in place or proposed to be implemented, including the automatic train protection system ‘Kavach’, to prevent train accidents in the country.

The development comes after a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed in the apex court flagged concerns over rail safety following a series of rail accidents around the country.

In June 2023, as many as 287 people died on the spot in the triple train crash in Balasore, while 1,208 were injured. Three trains—the Shalimar-Chennai Central Coromandel Express, the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, and a goods train—were involved in the pile-up.

The Coromandel Express rammed a stationary goods train, and many of its carriages overturned, including some onto another train—the Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express, which was also passing by at the same time.

In October, fourteen passengers were killed and over 50 people sustained injuries after two trains collided in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district, and at least four passengers died and 70 others were injured after six coaches of the Delhi-Kamakhya North East Express derailed.

The PIL claims that the government has approved the Kavach System for rail security, but the system has not been deployed yet.

In November, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that the indigenously developed automatic train protection system ‘Kavach’ has been fully installed on 1,500 km of train route.

‘Kavach’ helps loco pilots to avoid signal passing at danger and over-speeding but also helps in train running during inclement weather such as dense fog, leading to enhanced safety and efficiency of train operations.

Some features of the system are controlling the speed of trains by automatic application of brakes in case the loco pilot fails to apply the brakes and repeating line-side signals in the cab, which is very useful for higher speeds.

The Supreme Court has now diverted the Attorney General to respond to the allegations of a lack of rail safety measures and to list all the protective measures deployed by the Rail Ministry.

The court has also sought clarity on the status of the Kavach Security System. The court will hear the plea in four weeks.

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India releases draft guidelines to make railways more user-friendly for people with disabilities

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Indian government has released draft guidelines on accessibility of railway stations, facilities there and in trains for people with disabilities, highlighting the need for integrating technology-enabled features such as text-to-speech and user-friendly pictograms.

The Department of the People with Disabilities (PwDs) has asked stakeholders and the public to give their comments, objections and suggestions by January 29 on the proposed guidelines to create a more user-friendly environment.

The proposed guidelines also highlight the need for dedicated website features catering to “divyangjans”, ensuring a flexible and accessible interface design.

These features will follow universal design principles and World Wide Web Consortium guidelines, integrating technology-enabled accessibility features such as text-to-speech and user-friendly pictograms, the draft guidelines state.

The draft includes the development of a dedicated mobile app and a one-click template for people with disabilities displaying all the information and facilities available for them at stations as well as in trains.

Also Read: Indian Railways aims to curb cooking on platforms, emphasises hygienic catering

For inclusivity, credible announcements regarding facilities for PwDs will be integrated into public announcement systems at train stations and platforms. This includes sign language, captioning, and digital displays, the draft guidelines suggested.

Standardised illuminated signage across all stations, coupled with Braille signage, has also been proposed. Frontline staff will be trained in sign language to ensure effective communication, these stated.

The guidelines call for accessible entry and exit points, ramps and handrails Designated accessible parking areas with clear signage are recommended for the convenience of differently-abled individuals.

Low-height ticket counters with accessibility signage and accessible help booths manned by “Divyangjan Sahayaks” are proposed to enhance the overall accessibility experience, the draft guidelines state.

The guidelines placed emphasis on creating unobstructed zones on platforms, incorporating tactile guiding blocks, and providing accessible toilets, drinking water booths, and foot-over bridges.

Also Read: Ayodhya railway junction renamed as Ayodhya Dham

Accessible lifts at platforms and well-coordinated lighting systems are outlined in the guidelines. Integration of accessible features in new train coaches, prominent signage, Braille coach numbers, and contrasting colours for exteriors are recommended and inclusive coach interiors with accessible toilets and seating arrangements are also part of the proposed guidelines.

The existing system of station inspections by multi-disciplinary committees will continue to monitor Divyang-friendly facilities. Feedback mechanisms through complaint books, websites, and mobile apps are introduced to actively engage the public in improving accessibility standards.

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PM Modi to inaugurate Amrit Bharat Express on December 30: Know its features, route, timings and fare

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Amrit Bharat Express, touted as the “sleeper edition of the high-speed Vande Bharat trains,” is set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on December 30.

The first route will connect Ayodhya to Bihar’s Darbhanga, reflecting the historical and cultural significance of the two places, while the second route of Amrit Bharat Express is expected to connect Bengaluru to Malda, reports said.

On Wednesday, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw shared a video on the social media site ‘X’ showcasing the features of the new ‘Amrit Bharat Express’ train.

अमृत काल की अमृत भारत ट्रेन! pic.twitter.com/yegGEydJU5

— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) December 26, 2023

Features

The Amrit Bharat Express train will have 22 coaches in total, including 12 sleeper coaches, eight general second-class coaches, and 2 guard compartments.

In a circular, the Railway Board said these trains with Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coach-based push-pull arrangement have certain distinctive features, including “horizontal sliding windows, semi-permanent coupler between the coaches, dust-sealed wider gangways, an aerosol-based fire suppression system in toilets and electrical cubicles, an emergency disaster management light, floor guide fluorescent strips, bench-type design for LWS coaches, segregation of reserved and unreserved coaches (with sliding doors)” among others.

The Amrit Bharat Express train will be equipped with ‘Kavach’ technology, which aids locomotive pilots in preventing Signal Passing At Danger (SPAD) instances and handling operations at times of challenging weather conditions.

To ensure effective brake operations and a smooth ride free of abrupt jerks, semi-permanent couplers are essential.

Fares

Presently, the Amrit Bharat train will comprise second-class and sleeper-class compartments only.

The Railway Board has told all zones that the minimum ticket price to travel on Amrit Bharat Express trains for a distance from one km to 50 km will be ₹35, exclusive of the reservation fee and other charges.

The board has issued a circular mentioning the fare structure of these trains and attached a ‘Fare Table’ with the distance slabs and ticket prices.

The Ministry of Railways is yet to work out the fare table for the air-conditioned classes, sources told PTI.

“If we compare the fares for these two classes — second and sleeper — with other currently-running mail or express trains, Amrit Bharat’s fare is 15 to 17% higher,” a railway official told the news agency.

As per the Railway Board circular, concessional tickets and tickets against free complimentary passes that are not reimbursed will not be admissible in these trains.

“The eligibility of Privilege Pass, PTOs (privilege ticket order), Duty Pass, etc. for railway employees shall be at par with eligibility in Mail/Express… Booking of tickets against passes issued to Members of Parliaments, Rail Travel Coupons (TRCs) issued to MLAs/MLCs, and booking for freedom fighters shall be permissible as they are fully reimbursed,” the circular read.

The Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has been asked by the Railway Board to make relevant changes in the software to reflect the Amrit Bharat Express trains and their fares.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Indian Railways recruitment 2023: Last date to apply for RRC ECR Apprentice vacancies today, check details

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Railway Recruitment Cell (RRC) will close the registration process for the various posts in the East Central Railway (ECR) on Saturday, December 9. The Indian Railways had earlier issued a notification for filling up 1,832 posts in the organisation. Today was the last day for filing an online application.

Those who are eligible can apply for the relevant posts online through the official website at actappt.rrcecr.in.

ALSO READ | Indian Railways to introduce Vande Bharat sleeper coaches, Vande Metro trains soon; Check details

Candidates can apply online by following these steps:

1. Open the official website of Railway Recruitment Cell – East Central Railway at actappt.rrcecr.in.
2. Click on the ‘New Registration’ link on the home page.
3. After a new page opens, provide personal details and complete registration.
4. After completing the registration, candidates can fill up the online application form.
5. Make payment of application fees and click on submit.
6. Download the confirmation page and keep a copy of it for future reference.

As per the official notification, the application fee is ₹100 and is non-refundable.

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Those who have passed the Matric/10th class examination or its equivalent with a minimum of 50% marks in aggregate from a recognised Board and ITI in relevant trade were eligible to apply for the posts. The age limit for the same is between 15 to 24 years.

The selection for apprenticeship training will be held based on a merit list prepared in respect of all the candidates who apply for a particular division/unit, as per the official notification.

The list will be prepared taking an average of the percentage marks obtained by the candidates in both Matriculation with a minimum of 50% and ITI examination giving equal weightage to both.

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Bihar: Small explosion in Bhagalpur-Jaynagar Intercity Express injures 3 people

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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A minor explosion in the Bhagalpur-Jaynagar Intercity Express on Wednesday, November 15, resulted in three injuries.

Samastipur Railway Division DSP Naveen Kumar said Government Railway Police (GRP) has detained two people in connection with the incident.

#WATCH | Samastipur, Bihar: A minor explosion was reported in the Bhagalpur-Jaynagar Intercity Express, three people are injured.

Samastipur Railway Division DSP Naveen Kumar says, “Today at 1:30 pm, the Bhagalpur-Jaynagar Intercity Express arrived here on platform no. 5. After… pic.twitter.com/mgQWprbCRV

— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2023

More details on this incident is awaited.

Also Read:More than a third of families in Bihar surviving on ₹6000 per month or less: Caste survey

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Why you shouldn’t miss India’s slowest train journey

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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We’re all functioning in a fast-paced world, where everything under the sun must be quick and efficient. Sometimes it is your boss pushing you to meet a project deadline, and sometimes it is you who is hurrying to watch an extra episode, just to finish a series quickly.

And there’s one common enemy of every commuter traffic, when everyone is in a hurry and wants to navigate through as quickly as possible. Having said that, what if we tell you that there’s another journey that you take for an extremely leisurely ride. In the age and day of the superfast Vande Bharat Express trains, there’s the Nilgiri Mountain Railways, which is believe it or not, the slowest train in India.

The Nilgiri Passenger train covers 46 kms in five hours. If you were to compare it with Vande Bharat, this distance could be covered within 17 minutes and 15 seconds, aboard India’s fastest train.

Also read: Awesome train journeys to enjoy in India this summer

We’re sure you may want to skip the Nilagiri Passenger train, but here are some reasons, why you must travel on this route, at least once in your lifetime, even if it is just for ‘dolce far niente’, which is in Italian means joy of doing nothing.

At least once we all have danced to the tunes of the iconic Bollywood song Chaiya Chaiya. And even after 25 years, the song continues to live in the hearts of every B-town lover. When the Badshah of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan danced to the beats it was on this passenger train. And the tea plantation trails you saw in the background remain scenic.

If you turn to history books, you will find that the Nilgiri Mountain Railways was started back in 1908, when the British built the meter gauge. The train is also referred to as toy train. the Nilgiri Mountain Railways found its way to the UNESCO’s World Heritage list in 2005. In October 2023, Indian Railways celebrated 115 years of the rail route. This route will transport you to the good old days. You will find small coaches on the train with boxy windows through which you can see nature in all its glory.

Despite the journey being the slowest, there will be a sense of excitement within you as soon as you board the train. All through the journey, you will feel like everything from colonial times has remained here. The old buildings which have now been repurposed into offices and churches.

Also read: Indian Railways to introduce Vande Bharat sleeper coaches, Vande Metro trains soon; Check details

The route is regarded as an engineering marvel. It runs from Mettupalayam to Ooty, across Coonor in the Nilgiri Hills. It passes through 16 tunnels, 208 serpentine curves and 250 bridges. This is the steepest train ride in all of Asia, which is why the train has earned the tag for being the “slowest train” in India.

This joy ride it will cost you ₹545 for a first-class ticket. While a second-class ticket costs ₹270 per person. However, if you plan to take this train ride next summer, you might have to shell out a little bit more money. A first-class ticket on a summer special train will cost ₹1,100 for adults and ₹650 for children. And second-class ticket will cost ₹800 for adults, ₹500 for children. Train services on the route start at 7 am and the last train is at 6 pm.

If you are a travel enthusiast, you might not want to miss out on this journey. The beautiful tea trails, the nostalgia, the feel of Chaiya Chaiya and – not to mention – the opportunity to time travel 100 years back. Many tourists who travel to Ooty don’t miss this toy train ride. The train is an integral part of Ooty’s tourism.

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Indian Railways fine record 4,438 passengers at Kalyan railway station in single day

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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As many as 4,438 passengers were fined in a single day at Kalyan railway station in the Mumbai division of Central Railway during a drive against ticketless and unauthorised travel, an official release said on Tuesday.

A total of 167 ticket-checking staff, two senior officers, and 35 RPF personnel participated in the fortress check operation conducted on Monday and collected a fine of Rs 16.85 lakh. During a fortress check, all entry and exit points are manned by ticket-checking staff to identify ‘without-ticket’ travellers.

“The ticket checking drive resulted in penalizing 4,438 cases of ticketless/unauthorized travel, generating revenue of Rs 16.85 lakh in a single day,” the release said.

Arun Kumar, senior divisional commercial manager, and Douglas Menezes, assistant commercial Manager (ticket checking), participated in the drive. To ensure comfortable travel and better services to all bonafide rail users, the Mumbai division conducts intensive ticket checking in suburban, mail, express, passenger services and special trains to curb ticketless and unauthorised travel, as per the release.

Also Read:Fault in tracks likely cause for derailment of North East Express, suggests preliminary probe

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

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Fault in tracks likely cause for derailment of North East Express, suggests preliminary probe

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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Fault in tracks was the possible cause of derailment of the Delhi-Kamakhya North East Express in Bihar in which four people were killed and several injured, sources said on Thursday citing a preliminary investigation report.

The report, signed by six railway officials including the driver of the ill-fated train, stated, “It seems that derailment occurred due to fault in tracks.” It estimated the cost of damage due to the accident at more than Rs 52 crore.

The loco pilot was partially injured, and his assistant suffered serious injuries in the accident Wednesday night.

The report also contained a statement by the loco pilot who said that the train passed Raghunathpur station, near which the accident occurred, at a speed of 128 km per hour, but soon after it crossed the station section it suffered a severe jolt at the rear end with excessive vibration.

As a result of the excessive vibration and the severe jolt, the brake pipe pressure dropped suddenly and the train derailed at 9:52 pm, the preliminary report quoted the loco pilot as saying.

It also quoted a gateman and a pointsman at the Raghunathpur station as saying that they saw sparks coming from near the wheels of the train.

The report stated a breath analyser test of the loco pilot, and his assistant was negative.

At least four people died, and several were injured when 12506 North East Express derailed near Raghunathpur in Bihar’s Buxar district on Wednesday night.

Also Read:Bihar train accident latest update: 4 dead and 70 injured; Check list of trains cancelled, diverted

Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow

Indian Railways moving towards 100% electrification of rail lines in few months: PM Modi

KV Prasad Jun 13, 2022, 06:35 AM IST (Published)

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The Indian Railways is moving forward with the aim of 100 percent electrification of all rail lines in the next few months, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said here on Tuesday.

He was speaking after inaugurating and laying the foundation stone of multiple development projects worth more than Rs 8,000 crore at Nizamabad in Telangana.

“Indian Railways is moving forward with the aim of 100 percent electrification of all rail lines in the next few months,” Modi said.

Among others, Modi inaugurated the first 800 MW unit of phase 1 of the Telangana Super Thermal Power Project of the NTPC.

“Today in Peddapalli district, NTPC’s super thermal power plant’s first unit was dedicated to the nation. Very soon its second unit will also be operational. After the first and second phases are completed, the plant’s installed capacity becomes 4.000 MW,” Modi said.

“I am happy to note that this plant is the most modern plant of NTPC in the whole country,” Modi further said.

Telangana will be immensely benefitted with the power produced in this plant, Modi added.

The power plant will provide low-cost power to the state and will boost its economic development.

The PM also dedicated to the nation, rail projects including the new line connecting Manoharabad and Siddipet and the electrification project between Dharmabad-Manoharabad and Mahabubnagar-Kurnool.

Today in India, the world’s largest health insurance scheme, Ayushman Bharat is being implemented, the Prime Minister said.

Modi laid the foundation stone of 20 critical care blocks (CCBs) under the Pradhan Mantri – Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission.

These CCBs will be built in the districts of Adilabad, Bhadradri Kothagudem, Jayashankar Bhupalpally, Jogulamba Gadwal, Hyderabad, Khammam, Kumuram Bheem Asifabad, Mancherial, Mahabubnagar (Badepally), Mulugu, Nagarkurnool, Nalgonda, Narayanpet, Nirmal, Rajanna Sircilla, RangaReddy (Maheshwaram), Suryapet, Peddapalli, Vikarabad and Warangal (Narsampet), an official release had said.

Also Read:Indian Railways to introduce Vande Bharat sleeper coaches, Vande Metro trains soon; Check details

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Elon Musk forms several ‘X Holdings’ companies to fund potential Twitter buyout

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Thursday’s filing dispelled some doubts, though Musk still has work to do. He and his advisers will spend the coming days vetting potential investors for the equity portion of his offer, according to people familiar with the matter

KV Prasad Journo follow politics, process in Parliament and US Congress. Former Congressional APSA-Fulbright Fellow