Railways Manage to face the Challenge in Foggy Weather 165 Trains Run on Schedule out of 255 Late Running Trains

INVC,,

Delhi,,

As a result of tremendous efforts to ensure smooth train movements as far as possible during the heavy fog conditions, Indian Railways has successfully run 165 trains on schedule, out of a total of 255 trains which arrived for more than 10 hours late at their destination since 7th January 2011 till 1200 hours today i.e. on 11th January 2011. Using effective rake management and speedy washing/maintenance of rakes, the standby rakes for the late running trains were made readily available for return journey. The Indian Railways were in a position to reschedule 21 trains out of the remaining 90 trains with in 3 hours, remaining 17 trains were rescheduled with in 3 to 5 hours, 18 trains with in 5 to 10 hours only and 19 trains were rescheduled after more then 10 hours. Only five trains were cancelled during these days in the wake of worst foggy weather situation experienced by several zonal railways, namely Northern Railway, North Central Railway, West Central Railway, East Central Railway and North Eastern Railway.

For the guidance of passengers, a large number of officers and supervisory staff have been deployed at the railway stations and Divisional Railway Managers of the concerned divisions along with senior officers are continuously visiting the stations and assessing the efficacy of arrangements and giving directions for better train operation. Senior officers along with Supervisors are travelling in engines over various sections to ensure that all precautions are being observed for the safety of trains and passengers.

A number of measures have been taken by Railways to cope up fog condition. Some modifications in the automatic signaling section (especially in NCR) is being done to ensure safer Railways operations during foggy weather. The training, counseling of drivers and reiteration of precautionary measures to be taken during fog have been completed by all the Zonal Railways. Posters giving information regarding precautions to be taken by crew during fog have been placed in the driver’s lobby and driver’s duty room and in the chambers of ASM etc. so that they are constantly reminded of instructions required to be adopted during fog. Adequate stock of detonators is being procured by the affected Railways and experts Gangmen are being deployed to place detonators for best results.