Safety will be the focus area of the Indian Railways, which is at a critical juncture and faces an “image perception” problem, newly-appointed Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani has said.

Lohani said in a letter to employees yesterday that Indian Railways had suffered a “serious dent” in the recent past due to “certain unfortunate incidents”.

Lohani’s letter dated August 28 — before the fourth derailment in 10 days today morning — also indicated at reforms in the country’s largest passenger carrier.

“At this critical juncture when we are facing a serious issue with the image perception of the railways, I expect all my fellow railwaymen to pitch in wholeheartedly to set this perception right,” Lohani wrote.

The former Air India CMD made it clear that safety would be the principal focus area of the public sector behemoth which carries nearly three crore passengers per day

“We have to always be on our guard to ensure the highest level of safety in train operations and instill a renewed sense of confidence in our esteemed passengers.

“The great Indian railways has suffered a serious dent in the recent past due to certain unfortunate incidents. Such incidents often overshadow the great work that this organisation performs day in and day out,” Lohani wrote.

He also identified quality of catering, linen and cleanliness, which he said was crying for attention, as other areas of concern and stressed on the need to adopt a mission mode to bring improvements in a very short time.

“Our operating ratio needs to be brought down considerably, not only by reducing expenditure but by increasing freight loading and also finding other means of non-conventional revenue generation to achieve a spurt in revenues,” he added.

In the fourth train derailment in the country in 10 days, the engine and nine coaches of the Nagpur-Mumbai Duronto Express derailed between Vasind and Asangaon stations in Maharashtra early today following a landslide today. There were no reports of any injuries.

On August 19, 14 coaches of the high-speed Kalinga Utkal Express jumped the tracks on August 19, with one of them crashing into a house adjacent to the track near Khatauli in Uttar Pradesh’s Muzaffarnagar district, claiming 23 lives and injuring over 60 people.

On August 23, about 100 passengers were injured when 10 coaches of the Kaifiyat Express train derailed in UP’s Auraiya district after crashing into a dumper which strayed on to the tracks.

On August 25, six coaches of the Andheri-bound local train derailed in Mumbai, injuring six passengers.

India will collaborate with Switzerland for developing trains which will tilt on approaching a bend, just like a motorbike on a winding road.

A memorandum of understanding was signed today between the two countries in this regard.

Such trains are now operational in 11 countries — Italy, Portugal, Slovenia, Finland, Russia, the Czech Republic, the UK, Switzerland, China, Germany and Romania.

Explaining how the tilting trains work, officials said that as a train rounds a curve at speed it cause objects to slide about.

“While it makes seated passengers feel squashed by the armrest, standing passengers tend to lose their balance. The design of the tilting trains counteract this,” an official said.

During a curve to the left, the train tilts to the left and vice versa, the official said.

The railway ministry signed two MoUs with the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport and Communications of the Swiss Confederation for technical cooperation in rail sector in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The first agreement is a follow up on bilateral cooperation in rail sector discussed in the meeting held between Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu and the Swiss Ambassador in July 2016.

The MoU aims at cooperation in the areas of traction rolling stock, electric multiple unit and train sets, traction propulsion equipments, freight and passenger cars, tilting trains, railway electrification equipments, tunnelling technology among other things.

The second MoU was signed between Konkan Railway Corporation Limited (KRCL) and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology which will help the former in establishing the George Fernandes Institute of Tunnel Technology (GFITT) at Goa especially for assimilation and dissemination of knowledge in the field of tunnelling, the officials said.

A railway committee is looking at cutting down red tape to ensure the speedy disposal of files and promote efficiency in the public sector behemoth, according to its draft report.

The present structure slows down decision-making, promotes inefficiency and increases transaction costs, the committee, headed by the director general, personnel, said in its report.

Set up by Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu in March under the Minimum Government and Maximum Governance campaign, the committee is expected to submit its final report next month.

The draft report, a copy of which is with PTI, suggested reductions in bureaucracy levels to speed up the decision- making process and “minimise government”.

It said decisions could move faster if the levels at which a file moved were cut down.

Recommending that no file be kept at any level internally for more than one or two days, it said decisions should be finalised within 14 days.

“The present practice is that there are several layers of file movement. We have recommended restricting levels to a maximum of four which do not include sub-levels since such examinations are often without accountability and value addition,” a senior official said.

There was no defined schedule of powers indicating clear authority and the process to be followed, the official added.

“There is a tendency to obtain approval or sanction of a higher authority for perceived immunity,” he said.

It also suggested an “alignment to analogous organisations in other ministries”, or linking to departments elsewhere with similar concerns.

Adding an erudite touch to train journeys, the railways ministry is looking at a proposal to rename trains after famous literary works, referencing not just their authors but the region they come from.

So, passengers travelling to West Bengal could soon board a train named after a novel by Mahashweta Devi and a train ride to Bihar could reference a work by Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, said a senior official.

The ministry, he said, was creating a bank of award winning literary works from across the country to christen trains across railway zones.

“The idea came from the minister (Suresh Prabhu) who said the railways is a secular integrating factor in the country and the names of the trains can be used to showcase varied cultural identities. So we will name trains on the works of the authors across languages and across regions,” said the official.

Officials working on the database said preliminary work has already begun with a list of Sahitya Academy winning works being shortlisted.

“The minister feels that in India there are regional aspirations and regional affiliations that generate a lot of interest. It is an innovative way to commemorate these achievements. Also, it has great recall value for the younger generation,” said the official.

The decision to rename and name trains lies with the ministry. However, it needs to take permission for renaming stations.

The names of several trains, stations, rail circuits and schemes were changed after the BJP-led NDA government came to power in May 2014.

The Mahamana Express, for instance, was renamed after former Hindu Mahasabha president Madan Mohan Malviya and the Antodaya Express in memory of Bharatiya Jana Sangh ideologue Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

The Indian Railways also launched the Deen Dayalu coaches to commemorate Upadhyaya. Similarly, the Dadar-Sawantwadi- Dadar Express in the Konkan region was recently renamed Tutari Express, after revolutionary Marathi poet Krishnaji Keshav Damle’s Marathi poem Tutari, which means a trumpet-like instrument.

Some trains already had that literary touch. The Godan Express, for instance, which runs from Mumbai to Uttar Pradesh is named after Munshi Premchand’s acclaimed work. There is also the Kaifiyat Express, named after Urdu poet Kaifi Azmi, which goes from his home town Azamgarh in Uttar Pradesh to Delhi.

In the aftermath of the derailment of Utkal Express which claimed almost 23 lives, the railway administration on Wednesday sacked thirteen employees.

Earlier, the Government suspended four railway officials and sent Northern Railway General Manager RN Kulshrestha on leave.

The authority also sent Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) of Delhi, Member of Engineering, Railway Board (secretary level) on leave and transferred Chief Track Engineer, Northern Railway.

Fourteen coaches of the Puri-Haridwar Kalinga Utkal Express derailed at Khatauli near Muzaffarnagar in western Uttar Pradesh on the evening of August 19, killing over 20 people and injuring at least 200.

One of the most common queries rail passengers have is about train ticket cancellation charges and refund rules. Indian Railways carries over two crore passengers daily. With effect from November 2015, certain provisions of Railway Passengers (Cancellation of tickets and refund of fare) rules have been amended and comprehensive Railway Passengers (Cancellation of tickets and refund of fare) Rules 2015 have been notified through Gazette Notification G.S.R. 836(E). dated 04.11.2015. The cancellation charges vary depending on the time the ticket is cancelled. IRCTC, a unit of Railways, provides online ticketing facility.

Train Ticket Cancellation Rules In 10 Points

1) If a confirmed ticket is cancelled up to 48 hours before the scheduled departure of train, cancellation charges will be deducted at Rs. 240 for AC First Class/Executive Class, Rs. 200 for AC 2 Tier/First Class, Rs. 180 for AC 3 Tier/AC Chair car/ AC 3 Economy, Rs.120 for Sleeper Class and Rs.60 for Second Class. Cancellation charges are levied on a per passenger basis.

2) If a confirmed ticket is cancelled within 48 hours and up to 12 hours before the scheduled departure of train, cancellation charges will be 25 per cent of the fare subject to the minimum flat rate mentioned above.

3) Between 12 hours and up to four hours before the scheduled departure of train, cancellation charges will be 50 per cent of the fare paid subject to the minimum cancellation rate. No refund of fare shall be admissible on the ticket having confirmed reservation in case ticket is not cancelled or TDR (ticket deposit receipt) not filed online up to four hours before the scheduled departure of the train, says IRCTC website.

4) Refund will be granted on an RAC (reservation against cancellation) ticket or wait-listed ticket up to 30 minutes before the departure of train.

5) The e-tickets should be cancelled through internet and the refund of fare will be credited to the account from which the booking transaction took place, after deducting the applicable charges.

Train Ticket Cancellation Charges, Refund Rules And Other Details
Train ticket cancellation charges vary depending on the time the ticket is cancelled.
Business | NDTV Profit Team | Updated: September 05, 2017 08:38 IST

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Train Ticket Cancellation Charges, Refund Rules And Other Details

In case of cancellation of trains, for e-tickets, an automatic refund is granted.
One of the most common queries rail passengers have is about train ticket cancellation charges and refund rules. Indian Railways carries over two crore passengers daily. With effect from November 2015, certain provisions of Railway Passengers (Cancellation of tickets and refund of fare) rules have been amended and comprehensive Railway Passengers (Cancellation of tickets and refund of fare) Rules 2015 have been notified through Gazette Notification G.S.R. 836(E). dated 04.11.2015. The cancellation charges vary depending on the time the ticket is cancelled. IRCTC, a unit of Railways, provides online ticketing facility.
Train Ticket Cancellation Rules In 10 Points

1) If a confirmed ticket is cancelled up to 48 hours before the scheduled departure of train, cancellation charges will be deducted at Rs. 240 for AC First Class/Executive Class, Rs. 200 for AC 2 Tier/First Class, Rs. 180 for AC 3 Tier/AC Chair car/ AC 3 Economy, Rs.120 for Sleeper Class and Rs.60 for Second Class. Cancellation charges are levied on a per passenger basis.

2) If a confirmed ticket is cancelled within 48 hours and up to 12 hours before the scheduled departure of train, cancellation charges will be 25 per cent of the fare subject to the minimum flat rate mentioned above.

3) Between 12 hours and up to four hours before the scheduled departure of train, cancellation charges will be 50 per cent of the fare paid subject to the minimum cancellation rate. No refund of fare shall be admissible on the ticket having confirmed reservation in case ticket is not cancelled or TDR (ticket deposit receipt) not filed online up to four hours before the scheduled departure of the train, says IRCTC website.

4) Refund will be granted on an RAC (reservation against cancellation) ticket or wait-listed ticket up to 30 minutes before the departure of train.

5) The e-tickets should be cancelled through internet and the refund of fare will be credited to the account from which the booking transaction took place, after deducting the applicable charges.

6) No cancellation charge is levied and full fare is refunded to passengers holding confirmed, RAC and wait-listed tickets if the journey is not undertaken due to late running of train by more than three hours of scheduled departure, subject to the condition that the ticket is surrendered prior to actual departure of train.

7) In case of cancellation of trains, for e-tickets, an automatic refund is granted. Filing of TDR or ticket deposit receipt is not required.

8) For a PRS (Passenger Reservation System) counter ticket, when the train is cancelled, a refund of fare is permissible within three days excluding the scheduled day of departure of train.

9) Under the existing rules, no refund is granted on cancellation of confirmed Tatkal tickets. If a train is running late by more than 3 hours or train is cancelled, you can file TDR with proper reason for claiming refund, says IRCTC website.

10) In case of e-ticket issued for travel of more than one passenger, some passengers have confirmed reservation and others are on RAC or waiting list, full refund of fare , less clerkage, shall be admissible for confirmed passengers, subject to the condition that the ticket shall be cancelled online or online TDR shall be filed for all the passengers up to thirty minutes before the scheduled departure of the train, says IRCTC website. Other details about rules on railway cancellation and refund can be checked in this notification.

A 40-year-old woman died on Sunday after she fell off a moving train near the Old Delhi Railway Station while resisting a snatching bid, the police said.

They said the woman, Sudhir Bansal, was accompanying her son, Gaurav, who recently enrolled in Delhi University, to help him find accommodation.

They boarded the Yoga Express from Rajasthan. Ms Bansal was standing near the door of one of the compartments. When the train slowed down near Mithai Pul, on the way to the railway station, a thief caught hold of her bag, the police said.

The woman tried to fight him off but lost her balance and fell down on the tracks. She came under the wheels of the train and was injured, the police said.

Gaurav, her son, tried to save her from falling but was unsuccessful. She died while being taken to a hospital nearby. The thief fled with the bag containing cash, documents and an ATM card.

Commerce Minister Suresh Prabhu today denied he has been demoted in the cabinet reshuffle, saying he looks at his new task as an opportunity to ensure rapid economic growth of the country. Noting that his new assignment is his ninth as a cabinet minister, Mr Prabhu said every task is equally important.

A station master posted in Fefna has been suspended for alleged laxity after the Chhapra- Varanasi Intercity Express was sent on the wrong route, Railway officials said.

The train, which was supposed to go towards Ghazipur from the Fefna station, instead headed for Mau.

It was the alert passengers on board who ensured that it was stopped and brought back to Fefna, the officials said.

After a delay of 25 minutes, the train was sent on the right route, they said.

Taking note of the incident, Mr SK Jha, Divisional Rail Manager (DRM), Varansi suspended Fefna station officer VS Pandey and ordered a probe into the matter.

Services of 13 railway employees were today terminated for gross negligence that led to the August 19 train derailment in which more than 20 people were killed. Among those sacked are 11 gangmen, one ironsmith and a junior engineer, the railway ministry said.

All of them were workers in the Kathauli section where the accident took place when 14 coaches of the train jumped the rails.

“The railways has terminated the services of 13 employees under Section 14 of the discipline and appeal rule,” said Northern Railway spokesperson Neeraj Sharma.

Under this section, the services of any rail staff found guilty of gross negligence can be terminated without an enquiry.

The railway had earlier sent on leave, three top officials, including a secretary-level Railway Board officer, suspended four officers and transferred one in connection with the derailment.