Railway Board Chairman Ashwani Lohani today said that the Railways was paying special attention to the development of human resources, even as it gave the highest priority to passenger safety.

He was speaking this afternoon after inspecting the construction work at Habibganj station here which is being developed under the public private partnership model (PPP) and whose work is expected to be completed by December 31 this year.

“The issue of passenger safety in the Railways has been important to us. To deal with this, we are focusing on the development of human resources. We have established direct dialogue with the staff. There should be a stress free work environment for loco pilots and they are being counselled to make them stress free. Running rooms are being provided air conditioning,” he said.

He added that locomotive pilots were not being terminated from service for skipping signals but were being shifted to other railway works.

He said the railways was working towards providing toilets and air-conditioning in locomotives.

Asked about the implementation of competitive fare pricing like airlines, he said, “There is competition among the airlines and so they can use this type of fare pricing. But this cant be done in the Railways as conditions are different.”

Inspecting Habibganj Station here, Lohani said its work would be completed by December 31 this year and added that railway stations at Gandhinagar and Surat in Gujarat, Safdarjung (Delhi), Charbagh (Lucknow) and Gwalior were also being developed through PPP.

The Railway Board Chairman informed that trains were running late due to fog because instructions had been given to run trains at lower speeds keeping in mind passenger safety.

“As of now, the complete technological solution to tackle the problem of fog has not been found. The loco pilot can only know how far the signal is, but he cannot see the signal,” Lohani explained.

Lohani also met MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan during his visit.

NEW DELHI: On the occasion of 69th Republic Day, Minister of State (MoS) Railways Rajen Gohain on Thursday inaugurated an exhibition showcasing the heritage of Railways, in New Delhi.

“An Exhibition is also being inaugurated on the 26th January 2018 to commemorate this ceremonial occasion and showcase the relics besides afford a glimpse into the widespread impact for modernisation of the country and as a catalyst of the economy,” read an official note.

The exhibition was featured in five different sections.

The cosmetic restoration of the Fairy Queen, bridges; building and black beauties of Northern Railway; a philatelic journey celebrating Steam Locomotive of India; the Hill Railways of Indian Railways with a special focus on Kalka – Shimla Railway and plinth locomotives of Northern Railway and the Rewari Steam Centre, it added.

The exhibition seeks to capture the rich heritage of the Railways with a special focus on Northern Railways.

It was a feast for the eyes for passengers who thronged the stations on the Chennai Egmore – Kodambakkam route yesterday when Southern Railway operated a train pulled by old heritage steam engine ‘Express EIR 21’ to mark Republic Day celebrations.

The oldest steam engine hauling a single coach left Chennai Egmore at 12 noon and arrived at Kodambakkam to the cheer of all gathered to witness the prestige of railway heritage.

General Manager of Southern Railway R K Kulshrestha, Southern Railway Principal Chief Mechanical Engineer A K Kathpal and Divisional Railway Manager (Chennai Division) Naveen Gulati were present during the run. According to a press release, this is the seventh heritage run of EIR 21 which is similar to Fairy Queen in appearance.

Perambur Loco Works took the challenge of reviving the 163-year-old steam loco ‘Express EIR 21’ in 2010. After withdrawal from service in 1909, this loco was kept as an exhibit at Jamalpur Workshop and Howrah Station for over 101 years. During this period, the loco was open to the elements and parts got corroded – in fact, some went missing, some were broken and some were not fit for use.

After the revival, the first heritage run of EIR 21 was conducted on 15 August 2010 from Chennai Central to Avadi with two coaches as a part of Independence Day celebrations. The second heritage run of EIR 21 was conducted on 15 August 2011 from Chennai Egmore to Guindy, covering a distance of 11 km in 35 minutes. This time only one coach was hauled on realising the experience from the first heritage run.

The third heritage run was conducted on 26 January 2012, as part of the 63^rd Republic Day celebrations, from Chennai Egmore to Guindy with one coach having 60 seats covering 11 km at a maximum speed of 45 kmph. The fourth heritage run was in commemoration of the 157^th anniversary of the Railways and was conducted on 6 February 2012 from Chennai Central to Perambur with one coach having 60 seats, covering 5 km.

The fifth heritage run was conducted on 26 January 2013 as part of the 64^th Republic Day celebrations from Chennai Egmore to Guindy with one coach having 60 seats covering 11 km. The sixth heritage run was conducted on 10 September 2017 from Chennai Egmore to Kodambakkam with one coach, covering a distance of 5.36 km.

Heritage Train

• Express EIR 21 steam loco was built in 1855 by Kitson, Thomson and Hewitson of the UK, who built another such loco, Fairy Queen, the same year.
• Fairy Queen too is functional. It pulls a two-coach luxury tourist train between Delhi and Alwar.
• EIR 21 Express ran between Howrah and Raneegunge.
• After its retirement in 1909, it was housed at the Jamalpur Loco Works in Bihar, where its firebox got damaged and it was declared unfit for restoration.
• EIR 21 was shifted to Perambur Loco Works a century later, where it was brought back to life.
• It has a complicated outside cylinder well tank engine. Many damaged parts were manufactured based on drawings.
• Fairy Queen too was serviced at Perambur. That experience helped workers put EIR 21 back on track.

Notes from History

• First proposal for railways in India was made in Chennai, the then Madras, in 1832.
• First train in India ran from Red Hills to Chintadripet bridge in 1837. Called Red Hill Railway, it was mainly used for transporting granite stones for road building.
• On May 8, 1845, Madras Railway was incorporated, the same year in which East India Railway was incorporated.
• India’s first passenger train ran between Bombay and Thane in 1853.
• The first passenger railway train in east India ran from Howrah to Hoogly, on August 15, 1854.
• 1854 India’s first railway bridge built over Ulhas river.
• First passenger train in South India ran from Royapuram to Wallajah Road in Arcot on July 1, 1856.

Almost two years after Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggested to address persons with disabilities as ‘divyang’ (divine bodies), the Railways has decided to make changes in this regard in the concession certificates issued to such people.

The national transporter has changed the nomenclature from “viklang” to “divyang” in the concession forms offered by it to people with special needs.

According to an order by the railway ministry, the word ‘blind’ be replaced with persons with visual impairment with total absence of sight, ‘deaf and dumb’ be replaced with persons with hearing and speech impairment, and ‘physically-challenged’ as persons with disabilities (divyangjan). The ministry has asked the departments concerned to make necessary changes in the proforma for concession certificates.

The order will come into being from February 1. “These words were derogatory and needed change. Now the performa is being changed,” an official said.

The Indian Railways offers 53 concessions to passengers in various categories like divyang, senior citizens, students, defence personnel among others, amounting to Rs 1,600 crore annually.

The hearing and speech impaired get 50 per cent concession in second, sleeper and first class, while the visually impaired get 75 per cent discount in second sleeper, first class, AC chair car & AC 3-tier, and 50 per cent in AC 2-tier and AC first classes.

Others with disability get 75 per cent concession in second, sleeper, first, AC chair car and AC 3-tier, and 50 per cent in AC 2-tier and AC first classes.

South Central Railway, in a Press Release informed that the Zonal Railway is organising Employees Special Overseas Camp to Singapore and Malaysia from 28^th January to 3^rd February 2018 for Railway Employees working on the SCR Zone. This Holiday Camp to destinations abroad is the first of its kind on Indian Railways.

A batch of 100 Employees is participating in this camp which is being organised under the aegis of Staff Benefit Fund.

Shri Vinod Kumar Yadav, General Manager, South Central Railway will flag off the tour (Buses shuttling to Shamshabad Airport) at 16:30 hrs on 28^th January, 2018 at Rail Nilayam, Secunderabad.

SECUNDERABAD: In order to clear extra rush of passengers in view of Medaram Sammakka Saralamma Jathara, South Central Railway will run 16 special trains between Secunderabad-Warangal-Hyderabad; Kazipet-Sirpur Kagazhnagar-Kazipet and Sirpur Kagazhnagar-Khammam-Sirpur Kagazhnagar as detailed below:-

1. Secunderabad-Warangal -Hyderabad Special Train (08 services):

Accordingly, Train No. 07014 Secunderabad-Warangal special train will depart Secunderabad at 12:30 hrs on 31^st January, 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd February, 2018 and arrive Warangal at 15:40 hrs on the same day.

In the return direction, Train No. 07015 Warangal-Hyderabad special train will depart Warangal at 17:45 hrs on 31^st January, 1^st, 2^nd& 3^rd February, 2018 and arrive Hyderabad at 21:30 hrs on the same day.

Enroute, these special trains will stop at Moula-ali, Cherlapalli, Ghatkesar, Bibinagar, Bhongir, Raigir, Wangapalli, Aler, Pembarti, Jangaon, Raghunathpalli, Ghanapur, Pindiyal and Kazipet stations in both the directions.

2. Kazipet-Sirpur Kagazhnagar-Kazipet Special Train (02 services):

Train No. 07019 Kazipet-Sirpur Kagazhnagar special train will depart Kazipet at 19:00 hrs on 31^st January, 2018 and arrive Sirpur Kagazhnagar at 23:00 hrs on the same day.

In the return direction, Train No. 07020 Sirpur Kagazhnagar – Kazipet special train will depart Sirpur Kagazhnagar at 05:30 hrs on 4^thFebruary, 2018 and arrive Kazipet at 09:00 hrs on the same day.

Enroute, these special trains will stop at Hasanparthi Rd, Uppal, Jammikunta, Bisgur Shariff, Potkapalli, Odela, Kolanur, Kothapalli, Peddapalli, Raghavapuram, Ramagundam, Peddampet, Mancherial, Ravindrakhani, Mandamarri, Bellampalli, Rechni Road, Repallewada, Asifabad Road and Ralapet stations in both the directions.

3. Sirpur Kagazhnagar-Khammam- Sirpur Kagazhnagar Special Train (06 services):

Train No. 07017 Sirpur Kagazhnagar-Khammam special train will depart Sirpur Kagazhnagar at 05:30 hrs on 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd February, 2018 and arrive Khammam at 11:15 hrs on the same day.

In the return direction, Train No. 07018 Khammam-Sirpur Kagazhnagar special train will depart Khammam at 16:45 hrs on 1^st, 2^nd & 3^rd February, 2018 and arrive Sirpur Kagazhnagar at 23:00 hrs on the same day.

Enroute, these special trains will stop at Ralapet, Asifabad Rd, Repallewada, RechiRechni Rd, Bellampalli, Mandamarri, Ravindrakhani, Mancherial, Peddampet, Ramagundam, Raghavapuram, Peddapalli, Kothapalli, Kolanur, Odela, Potkapalli, Bisugir Shariff, Jammikunta, Uppal, Hasanparti Rd, Kazipet Town, Warangal, Chintalpalli, Yelgur, Nekkonda, Intekanne, Kesamudram, Tadlapusapalli, Mahbubabad, Gundratimadugu, Garla, Dornakal, Papatpalli and Mallemadugu stations in both the directions.

The Indian Railway is planning to introduce graded discounts system in passenger tickets on the line of air tickets where those booked tickets early get cheaper deals.

The national transporter is working on the new system by modifying the existing flexi fare, which was earlier introduced in premium trains like Duronto, Rajdhani and Shatabdhi.

In the proposed system, just like air travellers, railway passengers planning their journey in advance could get cheaper deals. However details are still being worked out, an official in the Railway Ministry said.

Earlier, a Committee appointed by Railway Board comprising NITI Aayog adviser Ravinder Goyal, Executive Director (Revenue Management) of Air India Meenakshi Malik, had suggested graded discounts depending on the number of vacant seats in a train.

Similar to the airlines, which offer heavy discounts to passengers if they book their tickets months in advance, the committee, official said recommended discounts from 50% to 20% depending on the number of vacant seats available at the time of booking.

The panel has also proposed discounts for tickets booked after charting. It has said that discounts can be offered in slots from two days to two hours before the departure of the train.

The committee has also said that passengers will have to pay more for choosing lower berths, just like air travellers pay more for front-row seats.

However, officials say that senior citizens, people with disabilities and pregnant women could be allotted the seats free of charge.

The committee has also recommended that instead of having flat fares, the railways should increase fares during festive seasons, and reduce them during lean months. The government may not implement all the recommendation in its new system instead some suggestions will be incorporated, said the officials.

The Ministry had formed the panel to review the existing flexi fare system where base fares increase by 10% (up to 50%) after every 10% of berths booked. The current flexi fare system received lot of criticism from certain quarter as the premium train fare shoots up to 50%.

The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) celebrated the 69th Republic Day on Jan. 26. A press release issued by the public relations officer of the NFR at Maligaon on Friday stated that the programme was conducted at the Maligaon Railway stadium.

The General Manager of the NFR Chahatey Ram unfurled the national flag. He is said to have inspected a march past by RPF contingents, Territorial Army contingents, civil defence; school children and Bharat Scouts and Guides.

An impressive cultural programme depicting the idea of India’s unity in diversity is also said to have taken place during the celebration.

In his speech Ram emphasised on the need to be in harmony with the vision of the prime minister and Railway minister to make the Indian railways a ‘growth engine’ for the nation. He said that the safety of railway passengers was of utmost concern; a paramount duty that should not experience any laxity or compromise as far as safety is concerned.

Also, the general manager called keeping trains and premises clean and hygienic a big challenge for the Indian Railways. “Swachh Rail Swachh Bharat” mission has imbibed cleanliness and environmental conservation consciousness, the updates added.

Also, the general manager informed that water-vending machines have been installed at 10 stations while 24 brands of packaged drinking water have been shortlisted to be sold in railway stations, besides free WiFi services at 14 stations.

In view of the ever-increasing demand of passengers for new train services, seven new passenger-carrying trains including prestigious services such as the Shatabdi Express is said to have been introduced in the current year; 12 conventional rakes were replaced with DEMU rakes.

During the current year, 450 children are said to have been rescued from the clutches of traffickers while contraband worth INR 1.6 crore is said to been recovered by the RPF.

The Republic Day event was celebrated in all the five divisions of the NFR.

NEW DELHI: The Railways today launched a one-of-its-kind touch-screen kiosk as a single-point enquiry station for answering all queries of passengers including about navigation for accessing various facilities available at the New Delhi railway station.

The Railways today launched a one-of-its-kind touch-screen kiosk as a single-point enquiry station for answering all queries of passengers including about navigation for accessing various facilities available at the New Delhi railway station. Chairman Railway Board Ashwani Lohani launched the ‘Rail Yatri Guide Kiosk’ at the station, designed by the Delhi division. The system comprises touch-screen kiosks with a 40-inch display of 3D-digitized railway station map and helps the passenger at the touch of the screen. “In all, 15 such kiosks will be provided at New Delhi station over next two months and gradually this system will be proliferated over major railway stations of the Indian Railways,” Lohani said. The national transporter also took a trip down memory lane today bringing alive the magic of steam-hauled trains.

Minister of State for Railways Rajen Gohain took a ride on the Fairy Queen hauled two-coach train, the Ganrajya Express from the New Delhi railway station to the Delhi Junction station.

Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday urged the youth to refrain from taking selfies on rail tracks, days after a 22-year-old man from Hyderabad suffered grievous injuries during one such attempt. In his message, Goyal has appealed to citizens to avoid selfies or stunts near railway tracks.

“In the last few days, I have seen news and videos in which there have been accidents of youth taking selfies or showing stunts near railway tracks. It is very disheartening to know about these accidents.

“You all are the future of the country and my appeal is to avoid putting your life at risk and stay alert around the railway tracks. Follow the rules and signs and pay attention while approaching rail crossings,” he said.

Along with the message, the ministry has also issued a number of posters with references from popular Bollywood songs like “Zindagi maut na banjaye sambhalo yaaron” (Be cautious, life can turn into death) from the film Sarfarosh, accompanied with images of people leaning out of trains.

There is another which says “Sun raha hai tu na” (Are you listening) from the film Ashique 2, accompanied with a picture of a young boy with earphones walking on the tracks with the message – “Listening to songs is fine, but not on the tracks.”

In the video of the Hyderabad incident which has gone viral on social media, the man identified as Siva is seen standing on the edge of the railway tracks holding up his phone with its front camera facing him and a train can be seen approaching him from behind.

Railway official are seen cautioning him to move away while he is seen asking them for a minute more. A case under 147 IR Act and trespassing has been registered against him by the Railway Police Force, officials said.

The message from Goyal also comes on a day an equally disturbing video of a Kashmiri man lying down on a railway track under a running train has gone viral.