Ambala division seeks restoration of 26 trains

BOX: Proposal sent to headquarters

Due to the Covid pandemic, the passenger trains were stopped last year. As per information, the division has sent a proposal to the headquarters to restore operations of 26 passenger trains having high occupancy figures (from 67 per cent to 111 per cent).

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Nitish Sharma

Tribune News Service

Ambala, February 7

The Ambala division of the Northern Railway has proposed to restore 26 passenger trains that cover the entire division to facilitate the local passengers and increase fair revenue of the Railway.

Due to Covid, the passenger trains were stopped last year. As per information, the division has sent a proposal to the headquarters to restore operations of 26 passenger trains having high occupancy figures (from 67 per cent to 111 per cent occupancy figures). However, like the mail express, superfast and other premium trains, only the passengers with confirmed tickets will be allowed to travel in the trains.

A railway official said the passenger trains were much popular among the people who travel on local routes, daily passengers and also for the labour class as these are much cheaper as compared to mail express or superfast trains. Besides, there are several small stations where only the passenger trains make a halt.

In its proposal, the division has mentioned that due to the Covid crisis, the train operations were completely paralyzed but now that the nation is heading towards normalcy there is a need to restore trains, particularly passenger trains, for the convenience of daily commuters, including students, businessmen, employees and labourers.

As per information, Saharanpur-Ambala Cantonment (64501), Saharanpur-Una Himachal (64511), Bathinda-Ambala Cantonment (54552), Nangal Dam-Ambala Cantonment (64514), Kalka-Saharanpur (54304) up to Delhi, Mohanpura-Ambala Cantonment (54758) from Shri Ganganagar, Doraha-Ambala Cantonment (74646) from Jalandhar city, Kalka-Shimla (52457), Bathinda-Fazilka (54559), and Firozpur Cantonment to Bathinda (54564) are among the trains proposed for restoration.

A senior official said, “At present limited mail express and superfast trains are being run but we have sent a proposal to the headquarters for the restoration of some passenger trains that have high occupancy figures. The selected trains cover the entire division hence the restoration of trains will facilitate the local passengers throughout the division and generate fair revenue for the Railway.”