WR run trains to various destinations to meet summer rush

Increased RPF Bandobast & Ticket Checking staff deployed to ensure Covid Appropriate Behaviour at stations & in trains

With a view to meet the travel demand this summer, various measures have been taken by WR, including special trains, temporary augmentation of existing trains, extension of festival specials, with special focus on north and east bound trains. Also steps are being taken to maintain strict guidelines of covid 19 at stations and trains.

According to a press release issued by Sumit Thakur - Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, as on date 266 regular special trains are being run by WR. In addition to it, 38 Summer Special trains with total 196 trips have been announced to meet the extra demand as well as for the convenience of passengers. He informed that inorder to meet the travel demand on priority basis, 17 Summer Special trains with 61 trips have already been notified in the month of April 2021 for UP, Bihar and East side sectors from 10th April, 2021 onwards. It will result in additional potential of 96110 seats/berths i.e. 6500 berths/seats per day for the passengers during the remaining period of April. This will be in addition to average 18-20 trains with 28000-30000 berths/seats per day running on regular basis for the said sector.

Also, 30 pairs of festival special trains have been extended till 30th June 2021 out of which 13 pairs of train caters to the northern & eastern parts of the country. In addition to the above, WR has decided to augment the existing trains with more than 233 additional coaches to clear the rush in the month of April 2021, while in March 2021, WR had temporarily augmented 575 additional coaches to the existing trains to clear the rush.

The Waiting List in regular & special trains are monitored daily on real time basis and additional new special trains will be planned accordingly to clear the waitlist. During the period from 1st April – 15th April, 2021, 234 trains were run to various destinations & out these, 68 trains with total 246 trips were run towards the North/ Eastern states of UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Odisha & Assam.

It is noteworthy to mention that on 16th April, 2021, WR has run a total of 119 trains, out of which 39 trains were north & east bound trains.

Various measures for Crowd Management at stations

Speaking about the various measures adopted for Crowd Management at stations, Thakur informed that security measures have been increased at stations as well as in trains. Adequate RPF Bandobast have been deployed at major stations of WR to help & guide passengers. RPF/GRP personnel have been arranged to streamline the inflow of passengers and for crowd management. Thermal screening of passengers boarding the trains is carried out at 28 stations over WR by RPF staff deployed at Entry Points.

They are also ensuring that the passengers are following the norms, protocols & SOP related to COVID – 19 including maintaining social distancing & wearing of masks, etc besides motivating the passengers for the same while travelling in trains. Ticket checking has also been intensified to curb unauthorised passengers and to ensure that only bonafide passengers with confirmed reservation are allowed to board the train. All entry and Exit Points of stations are properly manned by the checking staff alongwith RPF/ GRP personnel.

COVID-19 appropriate protocol, as determined by the respective state governments, is being ensured. Further, regular Announcements as well as extensive awareness campaigns are being made on social media platforms through webcards, short videos etc. and digital screens at stations regarding following of COVID appropriate behaviour by all passengers such as wearing of masks, use sanitisers & handwash and maintaining social distancing.