Gorakhpur: North Eastern Railway is going to cancel about 28 trains including Gorakhpur Anand Vihar Weekly and Gorakhpur Varanasi Express running on various routes. The frequency of about 36 trains running on Gorakhpur route including Humsafar and Lucknow-Patliputra will be reduced. This means that trains running daily will also run three to four days a week. This is when there is a situation of no room in trains going to Delhi and Mumbai. Waiting tickets are also not available. There is no space to step in general coaches. This will make it difficult for passengers going to Bihar and East to travel. This problem has been going on since July. Due to construction work on various routes of North Eastern Railway, trains have been continuously cancelled. The punctuality of trains has become very poor. Due to the third railway line at Cantt and Kusmahi stations, the operation of trains on the Gorakhpur-Chhapra route has been affected for about one and a half months. There is no sign of the problems of passengers decreasing. This is when the rush has started after Diwali. Not only going from Gorakhpur to Delhi and Mumbai but also coming back is becoming challenging. If experts are to be believed, this will continue till December. Because there will be a crowd of passengers. There is no fog right now. But the Railways, defending itself, has already started canceling the trains.
Daily trains will also run three to four days a week
After the completion of Diwali and Chhath festival, thousands of people of Purvanchal and Bihar going to other cities including Delhi and Mumbai are worried. Confirmed tickets booked in December, January and February have now started getting cancelled. Railway administration citing bad weather (fog). Cancellation of trains has started from 1st December to 28th February. Experts say that during this period, about 28 trains including Gorakhpur Anand Vihar Weekly and Gorakhpur Varanasi Regular Express running on the North Eastern Railway route will remain cancelled. The frequency of about 36 trains running on Gorakhpur road including Humsafar and Lucknow-Patliputra will be reduced. This means that the daily running train will also run three to four days a week.
Passengers getting worried due to train cancellation
Balram Singh’s ticket was booked in third year AC of train number 12571 Humsafar Express on 10th December. Third AC ticket was RAC 18. When the message of confirmed ticket came on his mobile on 25th November, he heaved a sigh of relief. But their happiness could not last long. In the evening the message came again that the train has been cancelled. His happiness disappeared as soon as he saw the message. Because one is not getting confirmed tickets for any train for Delhi. On top of that, Railways is canceling the trains. Trains are being canceled continuously since July and August. Confirmed tickets were not available in November. So, I had taken RAC ticket of Humsafar in December. But their wishes were dashed due to the cancellation of the train. Due to this, not only Balram Singh but also thousands of people of Purvanchal and Bihar going to other cities including Delhi, Mumbai are troubled.
Trains will run at a speed of 75 kilometers per hour
North Eastern Railway has also controlled the speed of trains in view of safe travel in bad weather. In fog, after installing the fog safe device in the engine, the loco pilot will operate the train at a maximum speed of 75 kilometers per hour without the device, maximum 60 kilometers per hour and at his discretion. Fox safe devices have started being installed in all train engines. The device has been repaired. A new map has also been uploaded to the device. Apart from issuing location book, group and man-to-man counseling has also been started. The use of traditional means like firecrackers and chuna etc. has started on signals. Guidelines have been issued to the running staff to ensure compliance with the necessary guidelines.
Report: Kumar Pradeep