Fog hits rail traffic in state

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, December 18

The rail traffic in the region has been erratic, earlier due to the Covid-induced lockdown and thereafter due to the farmers’ agitation.

Now, fog and low visibility have further hit the movement of trains with the cancellation of another dozen long-route trains for more than a month, after which the situation will be reviewed and further decision will be taken.

The only silver lining to the otherwise grim scenario is that the 02425/02426 New Delhi-Jammu Tawi-New Delhi Rajdhani Express special train will commence its scheduled run from December 19 in both directions.

Railways officials said keeping in view the safety of passengers due to foggy weather, the 02053/54 Haridwar-Amritsar-Haridwar Jashshatabdi Express (running six days of the week, except Thursday) would remain cancelled till January 31, 2021. Similarly, the 03307/08 Dhanbad-Ferozepur-Dhanbad Ganga Sutlej Express (daily) would remain cancelled on every Thursday from Dhanbad and every Saturday from Ferozepur till January 28 and 30, 2021, respectively.

Trains that would remain fully cancelled till January 31, 2021, included the 04673/74 Jaynagar-Amritsar-Jaynagar Shaheed Express (running four days a week), the 09611/14 Ajmer-Amritsar-Ajmer Express (biweekly), the 05933/34 Dibrugarh-Amritsar-Dibrugarh Express (weekly) and the 02357/58 Kolkatta-Amritsar-Kolkata Durgiana Express (biweekly).

Meanwhile, the authorities have extended cancellation and short-termination of trains due to the farmers’ agitation till December 20.