Railways has taken a decision to cancel those unpopular special passenger trains which have a very poor occupancy rate of passengers. Besides, several loco pilots and guards of the ECR have fallen victims to the Covid-19 virus and thus railways is finding it difficult to streamline traffic operations, sources said.
The second wave of the Covid -19 pandemic has virtually cast a gloom over smooth traffic movements of special passenger trains running on different routes falling under the jurisdiction of the East Central Railway (ECR). Railways has already cancelled more than 23 pairs of special passenger trains originating from or passing through different places of the ECR either due to poor occupancy rate of passengers or other reasons in the past few days.
“However, following a spike in the cases of the Covid-19 and extremely low turn out of passengers prompted railways to cancel at least 22 more special passenger trains either originating from or passing through the ECR jurisdiction from Sunday,” said ECR chief public relations officer (CPRO) Rajesh Kumar .
According to Kumar, railways has cancelled Patna–Bhabhua Intercity special ( 03249/03250 ) from May 25 while Patna–Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminal (CSMT) Mumbai special passenger train (03259/03260) will be cancelled from May 26 from Patna Junction end and CSMT Mumbai from May 28, the CPRO said adding Patna–Banswada in Telangana special passenger train (03253/03254) is cancelled from May 27 from Patna Junction side and Banswada from May 30 onwards.
Similarly, Rajendra Nagar Terminal-Banka special passenger train ( 03241 /03242) will be cancelled from May 25 from Patna side and Banka from May 26 onwards. Likewise Muzaffarpur-Maduadih special passenger train (05161/05162) will be cancelled from May 24 from both ends of the journey due to poor occupancy rate.
In addition to these, railways has cancelled at least 12 special local passenger trains running on different routes of the ECR from May 24 onwards owing to a direct effect on passengers’ turnout. The Fatuha–Rajgir MEMU special passenger ( 03233/03234) will not run from May 25 onwards while Pt Deen Dayal Upadhaya Junction–Dildarnagar special passenger train (03641/03642) will be cancelled from May 25 till further orders.
“Two pairs of Dildarnagar–Tarighat special passenger trains (03643/03644, 03647/03648) will be cancelled from May 25 onwards while two other pairs of Sealdah-Saharsa special passenger trains (03169/03170, 03163/03164) have bene cancelled from May 24 onwards,” he said.
According to sources, railways has taken a decision to cancel those unpopular special passenger trains which have very poor occupancy rate of passengers. Besides, several loco pilots and guards of the ECR have fallen victims to the Covid-19 virus and thus railways is finding it difficult to streamline traffic operations, sources said .
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