Minister of Railways Shri
Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inaugurated five new activities today namely
(i)
New AC Weekly Express train between H. Nizamuddin-Pune.
(ii) Expansion
of VIKALP Scheme of Alternate Train Reservation to Delhi-Howrah, Delhi-
Chennai, Delhi-Mumbai and Delhi-Secunderabad Circuits.
(iii) Pilot
Project of Sale of Unreserved Tickets through Hand Held Terminals.
(iv)
Launching of Ergonomically Redesigned & Optimised Tools for Track Gangs,
Keymen & Patrolmen.
(v) Pilot Project for Improving Safety at
Unmanned Level Crossing.
Minister of Railways Shri
Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu inaugurated following activities through video
conferencing from Mumbai today i.e. 23-05-16. Simultaneously, there was a
parallel ceremony at H. Nizamuddin Railway Station where Dr. Harsh Vardhan,
Union Minister of Science and Technology & Earth Sciences and Minister of
State for Railways Shri Manoj Sinha were specially present to grace the
occasion. Chairman, Railway Board, Shri A. K. Mital Member Traffic Mohd.
Jamshed, Member Engineering V.K. Gupta, Member Mechanical Hemant Kumar along
with other senior officials were also present on the occasion.
Silent Features : -
New Train Between
Hazrat Nizamuddin- Pune
The Indian
Railways, today, introduces a new train service viz. 12493/12494 Hazrat
Nizamuddin- Pune AC Express (Weekly) [Budget 2014-15]. The train services would
be inaugurated today (i.e. on 23.05.2016) by Hon’ble MR by Remote Flagging from
Mumbai (at about 13.00 Hrs.).
The abstract
schedule including timings, composition, stoppages etc. of the train service to
be introduced today is as under:
Introduction:
1.
Timings for inaugural run on 23th May 2016
02493 Pune-H. Nizamuddin
AC Express (Weekly)
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↓
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Station
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↑
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02494 H. Nizamuddin-Pune
AC Express (Weekly)
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||
Arr.
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Dep.
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Arr.
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Dep.
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|||
-
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21.25 (Tue)
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D
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Pune
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A
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16.10 (Tue)
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-
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21.00 (Wed)
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-
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A
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H. Nizamuddin
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D
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-
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16.25 (Mon)
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2.
Between 31.05.2016 to 28.06.2016
12493 Pune-H. Nizamuddin
AC Express (Weekly)
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↓
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Station
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↑
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12494 H. Nizamuddin-Pune
AC Express (Weekly)
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||
Arr.
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Dep.
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Arr.
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Dep.
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|||
-
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05.15 (Thu)
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D
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Pune
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A
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21.25 (Wed)
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-
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22.10
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22.20
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A/D
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Kota
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A/D
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03.00
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03.10
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05.35 (Fri)
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-
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A
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H. Nizamuddin
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D
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-
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21.35 (Tue)
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3.
12493/12494 Hazrat Nizamuddin-Pune AC Express (Weekly) w.e.f. 01.07.2016
(Regular run)
12493 Pune-H.
Nizamuddin AC Express (Weekly)
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↓
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Station
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↑
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12494 H. Nizamuddin-Pune
AC Express (Weekly)
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||
Arr.
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Dep.
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Arr.
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Dep.
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|||
-
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05.15 (Sun)
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D
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Pune
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A
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21.25 (Sat)
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-
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22.10
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22.20
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A/D
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Kota
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A/D
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03.00
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03.10
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05.35 (Mon)
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-
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A
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H. Nizamuddin
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D
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-
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21.35 (Fri)
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Ø
Days of run: Ex-PUNE – Sunday
Ex-NZM – Friday
Ø
One way distance: 1520 Kms.
Ø
Journey time:
From Pune to H. Nizamuddin: 24 hrs. 20 mins
From H. Nizamuddin to Pune: 23 hrs. 50 mins
Ø
Average Speed:
From Pune to H. Nizamuddin: 62.50 KMPH
From H. Nizamuddin to Pune: 64.00 KMPH
Ø
Stoppages: Kota, Ratlam, Vadodara, Surat, Vapi, Vasai Road, Kalyan,
Lonavala.
Ø
Composition of regular service: WLRRM-2, ACCN-8, ACCW-5, FAC-1, WCB-1
=17 Coaches
Ø
Primary Maintenance: Hazrat Nizamuddin with RBPC (NR)
Ø
Nature of Service: AC Express
Ø
Existing train service:
Between
H. Nizamuddin and Pune: 7 pairs of Express trains including 1 pair of Duronto
Express trains.
Launching
of“ ergonomically redesigned and optimized tools for Track gangs, keymen and patrolmen”
for Indian Railways and Safety at Unmanned Level Crossings
Indian
Railways’ network, approximately 70,000 Route Kms., with approximately 1.2 Lakh
km. track, passing through dense forest, ice-capped mountains, deserts and
cities is maintained in safe and comfortable condition by the untiring efforts
of our fleet of gangs, comprising trackmen, keymen, patrolmen etc.. This
2,60,000 strong manpower is the base of the Engineering Department over Indian
Railway. These men do strenuous work of track maintenance in all types of
weather, rather in extreme weather, so as to ensure safety of track.
With
adoption of heavier track structure on PSC sleepers, the systematic maintenance
is gradually being done by Heavy On Track machines. Still, there are various
activities, which can only be done by sectional gangs.
Sectional
Gangs are normally having gang beat of 6-8 kms. For assigned work, the track
maintainers are carrying contingent of tools from their tool boxes to site of
work. Each track maintainer carries about 5 tools, which are weighing about 26
kg. The primary tools are Beaters, crowbars, rake ballast, etc.
Keyman
is the first person to inspect the track everyday in morning. The entire length
walked by keyman on Indian Railways everyday is such that it would cover the
circumference of earth twice every day. These keymen apart from inspecting the
track minutely, have to attend to minor abnormalities, initiate protection in
case of major abnormalities as well as do the planned activities of greasing of
Rail fitting. For effective discharge of the duties both the hands of keyman
have to be free.
Whenever
the climatic or security conditions pose a risk to safe operations of trains,
patrolling is introduced. Hot weather, cold weather and monsoon patrolling are
normally done as a regular measure. The patrolman has to be suitably equipped
to not only detect any abnormal condition but also to initiate the immediate
protection measures. Among the equipments being carried by patrolman, tricolor
hand signal lamps and 3 cell torch posed a regular problem.
These
tools and equipments with these railway men did not get any attention so far
and were very heavy and cumbersome. Now, the tools have been ergonomically
redesigned by using improved metallurgy and better design. This will make the
work of these people easy and lead to increased productivity.
Following improvements have
been done in this regard:
Ø
Total weight of equipment carried by trackmen has now been reduced to about 16
kg from 26 kgby reduction in weight of some equipments and
number of equipments. Carrying of these equipments to site will now be more
easy and handy which will increase productivity of trackmen.
Ø
By suitable design and review, the weight of tools in Keyman bag has been
reduced from 16 kg to about 10 kg. The improved fish bolt spanner made of low
carbon Vanadium Steel weighs approximately 1kg in place of conventional Spanner
of about 3.3 kg. Shoulder bag has been ergonomically redesigned to reduce
the strain of carrying these equipments and keeping the hands free.
Ø
For patrolman, tricolor hand signal lamps have been replaced with tricolor
torches and helmet with miner’s light and improved staff for site protection
has been provided.
Safety at Unmanned Level Crossings
Accidents at unmanned level crossings over Indian
Railways have been an area of grave concern. These accidents have an enormous
safety as well as punctuality dimension. As per para 131, chapter-VIII of motor
vehicle act 1988, the responsibility of safely crossing an unmanned level
crossing lies entirely with the road user, however such large number of
accidents erode the confidence of the people in the resolve of the government,
to provide safe road and train travel. Several initiatives have been taken over
the years to address the matter. However most of these attempts have been man
power oriented.
Recent initiatives however have tried to rope in
the latest technology. After field studies following two methods have been
identified :
a.
Warning to road users of approaching trains using radio frequency based method–
The approaching train is detected at station on either side of Level Crossing
and information about it is sent via radio communication to the unmanned level
crossing. These signals are picked up by the equipment at the level crossing
and a flasher light gets switched on to warn the road users.
b.
Sensing of Obstruction on level crossing and visual warning to train drivers -
Unmanned level crossing is
kept under electronic observation using suitable CC cameras. The application is
so made as to sense obstruction more than a particular size. If the obstruction
continues on the track beyond the normal travel time, the flashing yellow light
is shown to driver of approaching trains to warn about the obstruction
Pilot implementation has been done. Now extended
field trials are being launched.
Sale of tickets through Hand
Held Terminals (HHTs)
·
Hon’ble Minister of Railways had announced 'Operation Five Minutes' i.e.
passengers will get tickets within five minutes. To fulfill this commitment,
Railways have already proliferated Automatic Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs),
introduced Cash operated Ticket Vending Machine (CoTVM) and Paperless Mobile
Phone Ticketing for issuance of unreserved tickets. A pilot project was also
started for printing of bar coded UTS tickets through Thermal Printers.
· Hon’ble Minister for
Railways had announced in the budget speech of 2016-17 to commence sale of
tickets through hand held terminals for the benefit of the suburban and short
distance travellers. The aim is to minimize waiting time for passengers at
booking windows. For achieving this commitment, sale of unreserved tickets
through hand held terminals is being introduced today as pilot project at
Hazrat Nizamuddin station of Northern Railway. This expands the ‘Points of
Sale’ of ticketing with minimal infrastructure requirement.
· These devices are
versatile smart hand held terminals consisting of a multifunction keyboard, LCD
display, Internal Flash Memory and battery with external charger. It is light
weight and very convenient to carry.
· Each machine has
unique number which can be used to monitor and regulate the functioning.
· It is GPRS enabled for
data synchronisation with server. Besides, the data can also be synchronised
through a network cable with server.
· The system is secured
through encryption of data which can be accessed through the application only
and through security of connection between the device and application server.
·
The hand held terminals will work in disconnected mode and being portable
device, tickets can be sold in the non ticket booking zone of railway premises.
·
Hand held terminals will reduce queue length at booking windows and passengers
need not stand in long queues.
· These terminals can
issue platform ticket, monthly season ticket and journey tickets for adult,
child and senior citizen.
· On these terminals,
printing is done through thermal printer on thermal stationery. The issue of
ticket will be fast and will eliminate possibilities of fraud.
ALTERNATE
TRAIN ACCOMMODATION SCHEME
In peak seasons, popular trains of Indian Railways
have very heavy waiting list, even when Special trains introduced by Railways
have vacant berths due to the fact that the general public is most of the time
not aware of these special trains/non popular trains. To overcome this problem
Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme (ATAS) is introduced by Indian Railways.
In this scheme, waiting list passenger bookings will be transferred to special trains/popular/non
popular trains depending on availability in these trains.
EXISTING SCHEME:
· The scheme is already
implemented in following sectors:
New
Delhi- Jammu
New
Delhi- Lucknow
· The scheme is
applicable to all e-ticket waiting list passengers irrespective of booking
quota and concession
· Under this scheme,
Waiting list passengers are given give choice to opt for ATAS scheme.
- ATAS opted passengers who remain fully Waitlisted after charting are considered for allotment in the alternate train.
· At present passengers
are transferred to other trains belonging to same site as that of their train.
- No extra charges are taken from passenger nor any refund is provided for difference of fare.
- Either all passengers of a PNR or none are transferred to alternate train in same class.
- The passenger allotted alternate accommodation can travel in the alternate train on authority of original ticket and in case of ticket on ERS/SMS of original booking.
- When an ATAS opted passenger opts to cancel, after he has been given an alternate accommodation, he is treated as a CONFIRMED passenger and the cancellation rules are applied accordingly.
- At present this scheme applies to only source quota passengers.
New Changes Introduced:
· The scheme will now be
launched on following sectors:
New
Delhi-Chennai
New
Delhi-Bangalore
New
Delhi-Mumbai
New
Delhi-Howrah
New
Delhi-Secunderabad
· The scheme will
be implemented across all train types except
Suvidha/Rajdhani/Shatabdi/Duronto/Jan Shatabdi.
· Inter site train
pairing will be allowed that is a passenger can be transferred to a train which
is originating from other site and touching passengers boarding station. The
condition being that the source station of main train or its principle station
should be present in alternate train as valid remote.
·
Passengers booked against any remote station will be tried for transferring
condition being that exactly same remotes should be present in the alternate
train. Principle station concept will not apply for other remote (except
source) passengers
