ECoR TAKES STEPS TO ENSURE SAFE TRAIN OPERATIONS DURING FLOODS AND HEAVY RAINS

East Coast Railway has taken steps to ensure safety of passengers and safety of train operations during times of heavy floods and water logging in many areas. The DOWN main line at Ichhapuram near Palasa o­n Howrah-Chennai trunk route has been made functional (with restricted speed) after remaining suspended for train operations for more than 18 hours. 29 trains were diverted o­n alternative routes while three trains remained cancelled between Bhubaneswar & Palasa. To avoid inconvenience to passengers boarding en route, three trains were run ex-Palasa to Visakhapatnam, Secunderabad and Tirupati. Many trains ex-Howrah to South India remained diverted through alternative routes via Kharagpur-Jharsuguda-Nagpur.

Limited train services were resumed in the afternoon. Bhubaneswar-Chennai Express, Bhubaneswar-Mumbai Konark Express, Puri - Ahamadabad Express, Hirakhand Express and some passenger trains are being run o­n this route.

The UP line remains waterlogged and a decision o­n train running would be taken after the rains subside.

Special patrol teams have been engaged round-the-clock at sensitive locations like bridges, cuttings, etc to keep a sharp look out for rising water levels or any other issue involving train safety.

Limited capacity will be a constraint to run more number of trains. A large number of goods trains carrying coal to powerhouses will also be affected as primacy will be given to running of express and passenger trains.

In any case, a sharp vigil and surveillance of tracks is being maintained to ensure safe train operations during floods and water logging due to heavy rains.