IR boosts festive comfort with record special trains

During this festive season, the Indian Railways has implemented a range of initiatives to ensure the utmost comfort for travellers while maintaining high-quality service delivery. Sabyasachi De, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Northeast Frontier Railway, mentioned that approximately 1,700 special trains were in operation throughout India. In a remarkable achievement, 26 lakh berths have been made available this festive season, setting a record. To accommodate the surge in passengers, around 28 pairs of special trains are running to and from the Northeast Frontier Railway jurisdiction. These special trains are in addition to the regular passenger trains, stated Sabyasachi De. Special trains are being operated to address the waiting lists on regular trains that connect major destinations. De explained, To manage waiting lists on regular trains connecting major destinations, special trains are being run from Agartala to Guwahati, Kolkata, Secunderabad, RKamalapati, and others; Dhubri to New Tinsukia; Dibrugarh to Secunderabad, Gorakhpur; New Jalpaiguri to Amritsar, Sealdah, Howrah, and more; Katihar to Ranchi, Mumbai, Amritsar; Naharlagun to Okha, Silchar; Purnea to Anand Vihar Terminus; and Guwahati to Kolkata, Ranchi, Udaipur, Santragachi, and so on. To manage the anticipated large crowds at major railway stations during festive travel, comprehensive crowd control measures have been implemented. Senior officers are stationed at these stations to oversee activities and regulate crowds systematically. The Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel are positioned at foot-over bridges to ensure smooth crowd regulation and prevent stampede-like situations during peak periods. Skilled RPF staff is stationed in the CCTV Control Room to closely monitor crowded areas and provide real-time assistance to passengers. Queue systems for entering general coaches are implemented at originating stations. Timely announcements about trains and coaches are made to inform passengers about the location of general coaches and the departure platform, added De. He emphasised that mixed escorts have been deployed in important trains to provide real-time assistance, particularly to female passengers on long-distance journeys. In our commitment to prioritising a secure and enjoyable travel experience for all passengers, special trains are being operated to accommodate the festive rush and enhance connectivity between various destinations across the country. Northeast Frontier Railway plans to continue operating more special trains as long as the festive rush persists, he concluded.