Trains to have five numbers from today

The mail train, 2296 Sanghmitra Express, will be known as 12296 from Monday onwards.
In order to keep a tab on the movement of trains and streamline the (late) running of mail and express trains, the Railway Board has decided to change the number from four digits to five digits. This way, the numeral 1 will be prefixed to all the existing numbers of mail and express trains, which means the original four digits will remain the same. Like for example, those planning to visit Goa from Patna will have to mention 12742, instead of earlier 2742 Patna-Vasco-de-Gama Express.

Besides, Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit and Diesel Electric Multiple Unit trains will be prefixed with the digit 5, 6 and 7, while the number 0 will be added to all the special trains like Puja Special, Summer Special, and Diwali Special amomg others. “The five digit number will help the railway mandarins monitor traffic movement through centralised control system in every railway zone,” a senior officer of East Central Railway told Deccan Herald on Sunday.

According to an estimate, around 11,000 passenger trains run daily throughout the country. The Railway Board has decided to keep an eagle eye on their movement by prefixing 3 to all the existing sub-urban passenger trains in Kolkata, while the number 9 will be added to suburban trains in Mumbai.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, while flagging off a local train, also formally announced the increase in frequency of the Patna-Bangalore Sanghmitra Express.

The train, which used to go to Yeshvantpur from Bihar’s Capital six days a week, will now run daily.