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Tag: Indian Railways

  • K-Rail Can Be Implemented If Technical Issues In Design Addressed, Says Ashwini Vaishnav | Mobility News

    The Kerala government’s ambitious K-Rail semi-high-speed rail project is back in the news again as the Centre assured on Sunday that the project can be taken forward if the technical and environmental issues in its design are addressed by the state authorities.

    The multi-crore project has been shelved for some time due to intense protest from opposition parties and the general public and also for want of permission from the union government.

    Giving a fresh hope to the project, Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnav said that he had discussed the matter with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan when they had last met in New Delhi.

    “I requested the CM that whatever technical and environmental issues are there in the design of the K-Rail, please address them expeditiously, so that, this project can also be taken forward. Because from our side – the NDA government – we believe in cooperative federalism,” he told reporters here.

    The union minister further said that the Centre is committed to constructing the Sabari rail from Angamaly to Erumely as per the original alignment.

    Vaishnav said that the state government recently sent a letter to the Centre with attaching certain conditions. “So, we will be very soon sending a format to the Kerala government which we have done with the government of Maharashtra,” he said.

    Once the state authorities fill up the format, then the project (Sabari rail) can start and move forward, the union minister added.

    The K Rail, a semi-high speed rail corridor, aims to ease transportation along the entire north and south stretch of Kerala and reduce the travel time to less than four hours, as against 12 to 14 hours at present.

    The SilverLine would cover a 530-kilometre stretch from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod and be developed by K-Rail, a joint venture of the Kerala government and the Ministry of Railways.

    The Opposition Congress and the BJP in Kerala have been protesting against the SilverLine project, saying it will affect the families who will be displaced due to its implementation.

  • Rs 100 Deducted For Waitlisted Train Ticket Cancellation; IRCTC Responds | Mobility News

    Indian Railways has announced thousands of special trains to handle the surge in passenger demand during the festive season. Despite this effort, stations are experiencing long queues, and many travelers are still unable to secure confirmed tickets.

    Passengers are voicing other concerns, particularly over unconfirmed tickets and last-minute cancellations of confirmed tickets. Complaints have been flooding IRCTC’s X (formerly Twitter) handle.

    In a recent incident , a passenger who booked a waitlisted ticket from Delhi to Prayagraj found that it didn’t get confirmed even after chart preparation. Upon refund, he noticed a deduction of Rs. 100 instead of receiving the full amount. 

    He took the matter to the X platform and wrote his concern to the Railway Ministry. He posted,” I booked a waitlisted ticket from Delhi to Prayagraj, but it didn’t get confirmed after the chart was prepared. Could you explain why 100 rupees were deducted from the refund instead of receiving the full amount.

    Dear @RailMinIndia @AshwiniVaishnaw

    I booked a waitlisted ticket from Delhi to Prayagraj, but it didn’t get confirmed after the chart was prepared. Could you explain why 100 rupees were deducted from the refund instead of receiving the full amount


    — Adil ansari (@Adilans62788455) October 30, 2024

    In the response IRCTC wrote ‘As per Indian Railway rules in case of waitlisted/RAC ticket clerkage charges Rs. 60/- along with GST per passenger shall be levied.”

    As per Indian Railway rules in case of waitlisted/RAC ticket clerkage charges Rs. 60/- along with GST per passenger shall be levied Please follow the given link: https://t.co/0Mek9yKVW3
    — IRCTC (@IRCTCofficial) October 29, 2024

    The passenger had initially shared a version of the ticket on Twitter, which revealed that it was booked through a third-party app—resulting in additional deductions beyond the standard clerkage fee.

    IRCTC Refund Policies and Deduction Details 

    Many passengers are also puzzled by deductions from their refunds on unconfirmed tickets. Refunds for tickets booked through third-party apps, as opposed to directly on IRCTC’s platform, can include additional fees. However, under Indian Railways’ refund rules, clerkage charges and GST are applicable for RAC and waitlisted ticket cancellations. Here’s a closer look at the refund policies:

    Refund Rules for Confirmed Tickets

    Refunds on confirmed tickets depend on the timing of the cancellation: 
    1. 48+ Hours Before Departure

    Cancellation fees are charged based on class:


    AC First/Executive: ₹240 + GST
    First Class/AC 2 Tier: ₹200 + GST
    AC Chair Car/AC 3 Tier/AC 3 Economy: ₹180 + GST
    Sleeper: ₹120
    Second Class: ₹60

    2. Between 48 to 12 Hours Before Departure: 25% of the fare, subject to a minimum of the above-listed cancellation fees, plus GST for AC classes.

    3. Within 12 to 4 Hours Before Departure: 50% of the fare, with a minimum cancellation charge, plus GST for AC classes.

    4.Cancellation within 4 Hours of Departure: No refund for confirmed tickets if canceled or TDR not filed online within four hours of departure.

    5. For RAC e-Tickets: No refund if canceled or TDR not filed within 30 minutes before departure.

    Refund Policy for RAC and Waitlisted Tickets

    RAC and waitlisted tickets offer specific cancellation rules:

    1. Before Departure: Tickets can be canceled up to 30 minutes before departure, with a deduction of ₹60 (clerkage charge) plus GST per passenger.

    2. After Departure: No refund if canceled after 30 minutes before departure.

    3. RAC Tickets with Confirmed Seat Allocation: If RAC or waitlisted tickets are confirmed upon chart preparation, cancellation rules apply as per the confirmed ticket refund policy.

    Refund Rules for Partially Confirmed Tickets

    For partially confirmed e-tickets or family/group bookings where some passengers have confirmed reservations and others remain on RAC or waitlisted status:

     Before Departure: A full refund, minus clerkage, is allowed if canceled online for all passengers up to 30 minutes before departure.

  • Meet Sanjeev Sharma, IIT Alumnus Who Is Principal Engineer At Elon Musk’s SpaceX, Worked With Indian Railways For 11 Years Before Moving To US | Economy News

    New Delhi: Sanjeev Sharma, the SpaceX Principal Engineer has gone viral on social media after a tweet on his LinkedIn Profile was circulated and commented widely by netizens.

    In an X (formerly Twitter) post, a user shared Sanjeev’s LinkedIn profile, captioning it “Indian Railways for 11 years to now at spacex is some next level stuff”.

    Indian Railways for 11 years to now at spacex is some next level stuff pic.twitter.com/jWwxCHg2Am
    — Dhruvesh (@naik_em) October 15, 2024

    Sanjeev started as Indian Railways Divisional Mechanical Engineer at the Indian Railways in 1990 and quit Railways Indian Railways in 2001 as Deputy Chief Mechanical Engineer

    He worked at Seagate Technology for around 9 years. He joined there as Staff Mechanical Engineer in 2003 and left the job 9 years later as Senior Engineering Manager.

    As per Sanjeev’s LinkedIn Profile, he joined the Structures Group, Dynamics Engineer (SpaceX) in 2013 where he described to have worked on recovery and reuse ability of the first stage booster starting from F9-005 to F9-0059. Led the structural dynamics effort working closely with aerodynamics, GNC, propulsion and thermal. After working in the position for nearly 6 years, he joined Matternet Inc in 2020 before and left as Head of Technology in 2022.

    He again joined as Principal Engineer in SpaceX in 2022 at the company’s Los Angeles area in the United States.

    Sanjeev’s qualifications, as described in his LinkedIn profile, says, an alumnus of Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee. He did his Bachelor’s degree, Mechanical Engineering from Indian Railway Institute of Mechanical and Electrical Engineers. 

    He did his MS in Management from University of Minnesota between 2007 – 2008. He has a MS, Mechanical Engineering degree from University of Colorado Boulder that he pursued during 2002 – 2003.

  • Indore-Malwa Express Brake Malfunction Causes Smoke; No Casualty |

    The breaks of the Indore-Malwa Express got stuck on Wednesday and caused a spark and smoke to emerge from beneath one of the AC coaches. The Railway officials stated that the train was travelling from Ambedkar Nagar to Vaishnodevi.

     

    #WATCH इंदौर, मध्य प्रदेश: अंबेडकर नगर से वैष्णों देवी जाने वाली मालवा एक्सप्रेस ट्रेन में घर्षण के कारण पहिए कोच में चिपक गए जिस कारण ट्रेन से धुंआ निकलने लगा: PRO रेलवे खेमराज मीणा

    (सोर्स: PRO रेलवे रतलाम मंडल) pic.twitter.com/hQjmhy9Uxg
    — ANI_HindiNews (@AHindinews) September 25, 2024

     

    As the smoke billowed, those inside the coach became alarmed, leading to a chaotic scene. Fortunately, the train was moving at a very slow speed, preventing any loss of life. Railway officials have stated that the smoke was a result of the train’s brakes sticking on the wheels.

     

    राजपथ: इंदौर में हादसे से बची मालवा एक्सप्रेस, ट्रेन के पहियों के ब्रेक चिपके#Rajpath #Indore #MalwaExpress | @pratyushkkhare pic.twitter.com/2eViuC8PqB
    — Zee News (@ZeeNews) September 25, 2024

     

  • Another Train Sabotage Incident In UP’s Kanpur, Gas Cylinder Found On Railway Track |

    Another shocking incident attempted train derailment was discovered and prevented on Sunday after a gas cylinder was discovered on the tracks in Kanpur Dehat district, Uttar Pradesh. The incident occurred at 5:50 am on Sunday at Prempur Station. The goods train travelling from Kanpur to Prayagraj was halted using the emergency brakes after the driver spotted the gas cylinder lying on the tracks.

    The Chief Public Relations Officer of North Central Railway reported that the Railway Inspector of Works (IOW), along with security and other teams, examined the gas cylinder and safely removed it from the tracks.

     

    Uttar Pradesh: A goods train going from Kanpur towards Prayagraj was stopped using the emergency brakes after the driver spotted a gas cylinder lying on the tracks, at Prempur Station at 5:50 am today (September 22). Railway IOW (Inspector of work), security and other teams… pic.twitter.com/0zwohXABdt
    — ANI (@ANI) September 22, 2024

     

    Upon inspection, it was found that the 5-litre cylinder was empty, CPRO North Central Railway said adding Directions have been given to investigate the matter.

    Similar incidents 

    On Saturday, train accident prevented after unknown miscreants tampered with a railway track near Kim Railway Station in Surat, Gujarat. Reportedly, unknown individuals removed the fishplate and some keys from the UP line track and placed them back on the same track near Kim railway station.

     

  • Soon, No More Train Accidents In India? Railway Board CEO Suggest THIS To All Zones | Mobility News

    Indian Railways – Train Accidents: In an important step to avoid train collisions, Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar has written to the general managers of all 17 zones asking them to monitor technical reports generated by a device called data logger on a daily basis.

    Data logger is fitted at stations and it records real time data of all aspects of train operations as well as the signal system. It generates an exception report in case a station master fails to take steps to ensure that a train does not come on the same track already occupied by another train.

    “During the safety review meeting held on 06.09.2024, I had instructed to all Zonal Railways that the data logger exception report should be monitored by DRMs (Divisional Railway Managers) every day and the position for previous day from two/three Divisions will be randomly reviewed at Board level,” Kumar said in a letter dated September 13 addressed to the general managers of all zones.

    “On 10.09.2024, six Divisions were asked by ED/E&R (Executive Director, Efficiency & Research) to share the position. Position was received from three Divisions; position was not received from two Divisions and position of the previous week was received from one Division,” he added.

    Expressing concern over the lack of compliance of a crucial safety instruction, Kumar said, “As this is an important measure for ensuring safety, all GMs have to ensure that the data logger report is monitored on a daily basis by all divisions in their zones.”

    Kumar added that the Railway Board may ask two to three divisions randomly to share the original printout of data logger report even if there is no exception report along with analysis and remarks in each case.

    The issue pertains to a General Rule np. 3.38(2) related to operational safety which ensures that two trains do not come on the same track one after the other.

    “A single rail line branches into several loop lines and a main line at any station. Now, if one branch line, let’s say a loop line number 1, is occupied by a train, the signal aspect for another train for that particular loop line will be red so that the another train doesn’t come on that line,” K P Arya, who retired as Chief Signal and Telecom Engineer/Information Technology, Northern Railway, said.

    “But if by mistake the loco pilot jumps the red light, he or she can hit the stationed train resulting in an accident. To avoid such a situation, a norm has been made that after receiving the train on a loop line, the station master will change the interlocking point to another line which is free so that in case the loco pilot errs, it doesn’t result in a collision,” he added.

    According to Arya, if the station master fails to change the interlocking point towards a free line, the data logger records it and generates an exception report.

    In two recent cases of train collisions, one in Andhra Pradesh in October 2023 and another one in West Bengal in June 2024, the Commissioner of Railway Safety reports in both cases observed that data loggers report showed that violations of safety norms happened multiple times before the accidents but the concerned senior railway officials of the division failed to take note of it.

    Railways experts say that it is a good move by the Railway Board chairman to ensure monitoring of data logger reports which will help rectify the mistakes before they would result into accidents.

  • Cabinet Approves 3 Railway Projects Covering Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh | Mobility News

    New Railway Projects: The central government has approved three projects of the Ministry of Railways with a total estimated cost of Rs 6,456 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved on Wednesday. They include two new railway lines and one multi-tracking project. These projects will cover Odisha, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh.

    The projects covering seven districts in these four states will increase the existing network of Indian Railways by about 300 Km.

    “The approved projects will improve logistical efficiency by connecting the unconnected areas, increasing the existing line capacity, and enhancing transportation networks, resulting in streamlined supply chains and accelerated economic growth,” the government said.

    The new line proposals will provide direct connectivity and improve mobility, providing enhanced efficiency and service reliability for Indian Railways.
    The multi-tracking proposal will ease operations and reduce congestion, providing the much-required infrastructural development on the busiest sections across Indian Railways.

    “The projects are in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Vision of a New India which will make people of the region “Atmanirbhar” by way of comprehensive development in the area which will enhance their employment/ self-employment opportunities.”

    The projects are the result of PM-Gati Shakti National Master Plan for multi-modal connectivity which has been possible through integrated planning and will provide seamless connectivity for the movement of people, goods, and services.
    With these projects 14 New Stations will be constructed, providing enhancing connectivity to two Aspirational Districts (Nuapada and East Singhbum).

    New Line projects will provide connectivity to approx. 1,300 villages and about 11 Lakh population. Multi-tracking project will enhance connectivity to approx. 1,300 villages and about 19 lakh population.

    These are essential routes for transportation of commodities such as agriculture products, fertilizer, coal, iron ore, steel, cement, limestone etc.

    The capacity augmentation works will result in additional freight traffic of magnitude 45 MTPA (Million Tonnes Per Annum).

  • Bengaluru, Pune Get New Metro Lines; Thane To Get Integral Ring Metro Rail Project Corridor: Railway Minister | Railways News

    NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Friday approved metro rail projects in Pune and Thane in assembly poll-bound Maharashtra, and in Karnartaka capital Bengaluru. The Cabinet, in a meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has approved two corridors of the Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-3, according to Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

    In a statement, the government said the Cabinet has also approved the Swargate-to-Katraj Underground Line Extension of the existing PCMC-Swargate Metro Line of the Pune Metro Phase-I project. This new extension is known as the Line-1 B extension and will span 5.46 km. It will have three underground stations and connect key areas such as Market Yard, Bibwewadi, Balaji Nagar and the Katraj suburbs of Pune, the statement said.

    “The project, aimed at providing seamless connectivity in Pune, is set to be completed by February 2029. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 2,954.53 crore, with funding to be equally shared by the Government of India and the Government of Maharashtra, along with contributions from bilateral agencies, etc,” it said.

    The statement said the Union Cabinet also approved the Thane Integral Ring Metro Rail Project Corridor. The 29-km corridor will run along the periphery of the west side of Thane city with 22 stations. The network is encompassed by the Ulhas river on one side and the Sanjay Gandhi National Park on the other, it said.

    This will provide sustainable and efficient mode of transport, facilitating the city to realise its economic potential and ease traffic congestion. The project is also expected to contribute to reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, the statement said. “The estimated cost of the project is Rs 12,200.10 crore, with equal equity from Government of India and Government of Maharashtra as well as part-funding from bilateral agencies,” it said.

    “Funds would also be raised through innovative financing methods such as by selling station naming and access rights for corporate, monetisation of assets, and value capture financing route,” the statement said. The approval for the metro projects in Thane and Pune comes a few months ahead of the Maharashtra assembly elections, the poll dates for which are yet to be announced.

    On the approval of two corridors of the Bangalore Metro Rail Project Phase-3, the government said the total completion cost of the project is Rs 15,611 crore. “The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today approved the Phase-3 of Bangalore Metro Rail Project with two elevated corridors for a length of 44.65 Km with 31 stations,” the statement said.

    “Corridor-1 from JP Nagar 4thPhase to Kempapura (along Outer Ring Road West) for a length of 32.15 km with 22 stations and Corridor-2 from Hosahalli to Kadabagere (along Magadi Road) for a length of 12.50 km with 9 stations. On operationalisation of Phase-3, Bengaluru city will have 220.20 km of active metro rail Network,” statement said.

    The Phase-3 of Bangalore Metro Rail Project represents a significant advancement in the city’s infrastructure development. The Phase-3 acts as a major expansion of the metro rail network in the city, it said. Phase-3 will add approximately 44.65 km of new metro lines, connecting the western part of Bengaluru that were previously underserved, it stated.

    “Phase-3 will integrate key areas of the city which includes Peenya Industrial Area, IT industries on Bannerghatta road and Outer Ring Road, Textile and Engineering items Manufacturing units on Tumkuru Road and ORR, Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL), Major educational institutions like PES University, Ambedkar College, Polytechnic College, KLE College, Dayanandsagar University, ITI etc,” the statement said.

    Improved last-mile connectivity to commercial centres, industrial hubs, educational institutions, and healthcare facilities will facilitate better access for residents, it also added.

  • Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Accident: Multiple Coaches Derailed Near Gonda; 2 Dead, Dozens Injured | Railways News

    Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express Accident: In another tragic incident, around six coaches of Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed near Gonda in Uttar Pradesh. So far, there are reports of two deaths while dozens of passengers are said to be injured. The accident took place around 2.40 pm. The six derailed coaches include at least four AC coaches. The accident happened near the Jhilahi station. The District Magistrate confirmed that at present 2 people have died while 2 others are seriously injured. “Apart from this, the injured are being taken to the hospital for treatment. At present, relief and rescue work is going on,” said Relief Commissioner, Uttar Pradesh.

    #WATCH | Gonda Train Derailment | Visuals of the Dibrugarh-Chandigarh Express which derailed in Uttar Pradesh’s Gonda today.

    As per Gonda DM, two people have died and around 20 are injured in the incident. pic.twitter.com/xQ76a4qWXh


    — ANI (@ANI) July 18, 2024

    The driver of the train made a shocking claim saying that he heard a loud noise before the derailment. This raises suspicion on hand of anti-social elements in the train derailment. However, the truth will be out only after an inquiry.

    जनपद-गोंडा
    15904 चंडीगढ़ एक्सप्रेस ट्रेन हादसे में #sdrf_up टीम द्वारा राहत एवं बचाव कार्य किया जा रहा है। pic.twitter.com/VSyHj3cI1r
    — SDRF UTTAR PRADESH (@sdrf_up) July 18, 2024

    The train was enroute to Dibrugarh. A contingent of army jawans has reached at the site to help the local administration with a rescue operation. According to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office, CM Yogi Adityanath has taken cognisance of the train accident in the Gonda district. He directed the officials to reach the spot immediately and expedite the relief work. He also instructed for proper treatment of the injured.


    As per the instructions of Chief Minister Adityanath, one team of NDRF has been dispatched from Lucknow and Balrampur to Gonda. Five ambulances have been deployed for relief and rescue operations at the site of the train accident. Additionally, orders have been given to send more ambulances to the spot. A team of doctors is present at the site, providing first aid to the injured. The injured are also being shifted to the hospital.

    जनपद गोण्डा में हुई ट्रेन दुर्घटना अत्यंत दुःखद है।

    जिला प्रशासन के अधिकारियों को युद्ध स्तर पर राहत एवं बचाव कार्य संचालित करने और घायलों को शीर्ष प्राथमिकता के साथ अस्पताल पहुंचाकर उनके समुचित उपचार के लिए निर्देश दिए हैं।

    प्रभु श्री राम से घायलों के शीघ्र स्वास्थ्य लाभ हेतु…
    — Yogi Adityanath (@myogiadityanath) July 18, 2024

    The Relief Commissioner has dispatched an SDRF team from three districts to expedite the relief operations.

    Assam Chief Minister Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma has been briefed about the derailment of the Dibrugarh – Chandigarh express. He is monitoring the situation and the Government of Assam is in touch with relevant authorities, said the Assam Chief Minister’s Office.

    Reacting to the Dibrugarh-Chandigarh express derailment, Pankaj Singh, CPRO, North Eastern Railway said, “Medical van of Railways has reached the spot and rescue operation has been started. Helpline numbers have been issued. It happened around 2.37 pm.”

    Indian Railways Helpline

    The Indian Railways has issued helplines for the passengers and their families. The numbers are 0361-2731621, 0361-2731622, and 0361-2731623. The Lucknow division of North Eastern Railways has also issued helpline numbers which are as follow: Commercial Control – 9957555984, Furkating (FKG): 9957555966, Mariani (MXN): 6001882410, Simalguri (SLGR): 8789543798, Tinsukia (NTSK): 9957555959 and Dibrugarh (DBRG): 9957555960.

    The train derailment came a month after Kanchanjunga train accident in West Bengal. At least 11 people had died and more than 40 were injured in the accident that took place after a goods train collided with the stationary Kanchanjunga Express. 

  • Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Train Derailment: Check List Of Cancelled, Diverted Trains |

    Several trains have been diverted or cancelled after at least four coaches of the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express derailed near Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, on Wednesday, killing four people and injuring twenty others. Senior railway and local administration officials are on the scene to direct rescue efforts. The accident occurred at approximately 2:35 p.m. The relief commissioner’s office has set up helpline numbers for Gonda at 8957400965 and Lucknow at 8957409292. The Indian Railways has launched a relief effort, and medical vans have arrived at the accident site.

    Multiple Trains Diverted, Cancelled Due to Route Change

    Several trains are being rerouted due to the Chandigarh-Dibrugarh Express accident affecting their schedules and routes. The affected trains include:

    The trains affected include the 12557 Sapt Kranti Express, 12553 Saharsa-New Delhi Vaishali Express, 13019 Howrah-Kathgodam Bagh Express, 15273 Raxaul-Anand Vihar Satyagrah Express, 12565 Darbhanga-New Delhi Bihar Sampark Kranti Express, 12555 Gorakhpur-Bhatinda Gorakhdham Express, and 15707 Katihar-Amritsar Amrapali Express.

    The sudden change in routes has caused inconvenience to passengers who were scheduled to travel on these trains. The 5094 and 5031 Gonda-Gorakhpur Passenger trains have been cancelled, while the 14673 Jaynagar-Amritsar Shaheed Express is being run on a diverted route.

    Indian Railway Issues Helpline Numbers

    The Railway Board has issued the following helpline numbers: Commercial Control: 9957555984, Furkating (FKG): 9957555966, Mariani (MXN): 6001882410, Simalguri (SLGR): 8789543798, Tinsukia (NTSK): 9957555959, Dibrugarh (DBRG): 9957555960.