Delhi station to be upgraded
Trains diverted, cancelled
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, Feb 4 — The operational upgradation of the main Delhi railway station on February 6 and 7 will result in partial cancellation, change of terminals in Delhi area and diversion of trains, Northern Railway said.

Addressing a press conference here today, General Manager, Northern Railway, Mr S.P. Mehta, said the new state-of-the-art route relay interlocking system would improve passenger and goods handling facilities.

The system would reduce route setting time from 10-15 seconds to 3-6 seconds and provide alternative path to trains to come to platform in case of blockage of a route due to any reason.

The old system had been working since 1968.

Mr Mehta said during the installation of the new route relay interlocking panel, certain diversions/change of terminals and partial cancellations would come into effect.

This non-interlocking would be completed in a period of 48 hours. With this, the Delhi main station would have 1120 routes.

"Twentyfour coaches capacity for platform No 16 and direct connection with Ambala from platform Nos 17 and 18 and direct connection with Sahibabad and beyond from platform No 1A (the drive-in platform) would be provided," he added.

Mr Mehta stated that the tickets bought remained valid, no matter where the train originated or terminated and "to avoid inconvenience, passengers should consult the railway enquiry before coming to the station on the dates mentioned."

The trains which will be partially cancelled are the Amritsar-New Delhi Express (4660) on February 6 which will originate from Amritsar and terminate at Subzi Mandi, the Amritsar-New Delhi Express (4659) on February 6 which will originate fromSubzi Mandi instead of New Delhi, the New Delhi-Bathinda Intercity Express (4590) on February 6 which will orginate from Bathinda and terminate at Naya Azadpur, and the New Delhi-Bathinda Intercity Express (4589) on February 6 instead of originating from New Delhi would originate from Naya Azadpur.

Among others the trains which have change of terminals in Delhi area include Jammu Mail (4033/4034) on February 6 and 7 instead of originating and terminating at Delhi Jn will originate and terminate at New Delhi, the Jammu-Tawi Express (2404) on February 6 and 7 will originate and terminate at Delhi Sarai Rohilla instead of Delhi Jn, the Jammu-Tawi Express (2403) on February 5, 6 and 7 will originate and terminate at Delhi Sarai Rohilla instead of Delhi Jn and the Delhi-Attari Express (4001) on February 7 will originate and terminate at New Delhi instead of Delhi Jn.

The trains which will be diverted for the period when the upgradation is being carried out include Jammu Tawi (2472) which passing through the Capital on February 6 will have diverted route through Okhla-Delhi Safdarjung-Naya Azadpur with halts at Okhla, Delhi Safdarjung and Naya Azadpur. Jammu Tawi (2478) on February 7 and train number 1058 from Amritsar on February 6 will follow the same diversions as of Jammu Tawi (2472). Train No 9368 from Jammu Tawi on February 6 and train No 1078 from Jammu Tawi on February 5 will follow the same diversion as in case of Jammu Tawi (2472).

The train No 2138 from Ferozepur on Feb 5 and 6 will have a diverted route through Okhla-Delhi-Safdarjung-Shakur Basti with halts at Okhla and Delhi Safdarjung. The train No 6032 from Jammu Tawi on February 5 and 6 and train No 9024 from Ferozepur will follow the same diversion in case of train No 2138.

The train No 2312 from Kalka on February 5 and 6 will have a diverted route through Subzi Mandi-New Delhi-Sahibabad with a halt at New Delhi and train No 8102 from Pathankot on February 5 and 6 will be diverted through Naya Azadpur-Delhi-Safdarjung-H-Nizamuddin-Sahibabad with halts at Naya Azadpur and Delhi Safdarjung.

From Amritsar, train No 4648 on February 6 and 7 will be diverted through Naya Azadpur-Delhi-Safdarjung with halts at Naya Azadpur and Delhi Safdarjung.