Northern Railway has announced a detailed plan to manage the increase in passengers during the festive season by operating 2,950 special trains. This is a big improvement compared to last year when they only had 1,082 festival-special trains. The number of trains has gone up by 172 percent this year, and these trains will run from October 1 to November 30, 2024.
Chief Public Relations Officer Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay shared that 83 percent of these special trains will head to eastern states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, and Jharkhand. The most popular destinations include cities such as Varanasi, Patna, Kolkata, Guwahati, and Lucknow. These special trains will depart from the National Capital Region to help manage the large number of passengers traveling to these areas for the holidays.
To ensure passenger safety, Northern Railway is implementing strict measures to prevent unauthorized entry into reserved compartments, reduce the risk of carrying dangerous materials like flammable items, and stop smoking and littering on both trains and at stations. In case even more trains are needed, they will provide unreserved special trains to handle the extra rush of passengers on a real-time basis.
Northern Railway is also adding 52 extra coaches to different trains to increase capacity. This will allow for an additional 2,740 train trips during the festive period and help transport more than 2.06 lakh passengers. To manage the crowds, extra ticket-checking staff and Railway Protection Force (RPF) officers will be stationed at crowded areas like platforms, booking offices, entry and exit points, and foot-over bridges.
The railway is making special arrangements for senior citizens, differently-abled passengers, and women to ensure their safety and comfort. They are also creating designated waiting areas at stations to prevent overcrowding.
In addition to safety, Northern Railway is focusing on improving passenger services. They ensure smooth ticket booking, provide food, first aid, and medical services, and make regular announcements to keep passengers informed. Extra RPF personnel will be deployed to manage the large crowds and keep operations running smoothly.
In summary, Northern Railway’s plan for the festive season includes a major increase in the number of special trains, extra safety measures, and improved facilities. Their goal is to ensure that all passengers have a safe, comfortable, and hassle-free journey during this busy travel time.
(This article is a reworked version of a PTI feed)
