Indian Railways to run more special trains during festive season

With the festival season starting, Indian Railway Board on Tuesday approved operation of 196 pairs (392) of special trains from October 20 to November 30.

The zonal railways has to decide schedule and day of running of these trains. These trains are special trains and will operate at minimum speed of 55 km so that that they remain super speed services. Fare will be "Special Train Fare," the Railway Board said in its communication to zonal railways.

Also read: Full list of special trains for festive season

"The zonal railways should make efforts to operate these trains with more AC-III coaches in good conditions," said the communication.

With the increased demand for trains due to coming festival season, the railways has decided to operate more trains, the officials in the national transporter said.

The Northern Railway on Monday announced operating 40 trains starting from October 15. These trains include Jan Shatbdi, Duronto, Rajdhani and AC Express.

The Railway Board also last week approved operation of 39 special trains from different divisions, and will commence its operation from October 15 onwards.

"The railways is taking stock of passenger train services on daily basis. Depending on the needs and state government request, the railways will take decision on operating more trains," Railway Board Chairman V K Yadav had said earlier.

IRCTC also said it will restart operations of its two Tejas Express trains from October 17 between Lucknow-New Delhi and Ahmedabad-Mumbai.

The Railways has currently suspended all regular passenger trains indefinitely. Regular trains have remained suspended since March 22.

It started operations of 15 pairs of premium Rajdhani special trains connecting Delhi with different parts of the country on May 12, and 100 pairs of long-distance trains on June 1. It also started 80 trains additionally on September 12.