Many divisions against introducing new trains in Rail Budget
A key Railway division is not in favour of introduction of new trains in the upcoming Rail Budget saying any further increase will ''seriously jeopardise punctuality and safety'' of operations.
The Delhi Division, one of the busiest in the country, has also made a representation in this regard before a high- powered committee on safety chaired by former Atomic Energy Commission chief Anil Kakodkar.
According to sources, the division was of the view that its infrastructure was already under immense stress and running more trains would significantly jeopardise passengers' safety.
The division handles over 500 passenger trains and 250 freight trains daily.
It has seen little addition of infrastructure creation despite introduction of new trains over the years, they said, adding the problems of the division were placed threadbare before the Kakodkar Committee.
Sources in the Railway Board also indicated that some more busy divisions are against introduction of new trains in their respective areas, notwithstanding the political pressure from for introduction of new passenger services.
The Board is already flooded with requests from state governments as well as local representatives across the country for new trains in the upcoming Rail Budget.
While a relatively neglected state like Odisha has demanded over 25 new trains, Gujarat on the other hand has sought 35 new services including proposals for high-speed rail connectivity.
The sources also said that year after year new trains are accommodated on the congested tracks, compromising on the running schedule of the existing trains and in effect hampering punctuality.
Between April and December last year, train punctuality across the rail network was 75 per cent, behind the Railways' target of over 95 per cent.
The average punctuality in case of Northern Railways, under whose zone Delhi Division falls, was 58 per cent. This zone is also witness to large scale disruptions during winter season because of dense fog, they said.
The punctuality performance of North Central Railways, which handles the busy Delhi-Howrah trunk route from Ghaziabad to Mughalsarai, is 51 per cent.
However, the Railway Board, which is facing a tough task accommodating all the request, is understood to be going ahead with introduction of not less than 100 trains in the Rail Budget 2012-13.
The new services could also include popular Duronto class of trains providingRajdhani-like speed and comfort on lesser fare. The passenger time-table committee has already conducted a first round of discussion keeping in view the possible introduction of new trains.
Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi is also keen on doing away with the system of waiting list for passengers and to achieve this he could also propose running of "clone trains".
This type of train would run within a short span of the departure of original train with same number of stoppages and coach configuration between the same destinations.
