Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi meets loco pilots during his visit to the New Delhi Railway Station, in New Delhi.
| Photo Credit: ANI

The Ministry of Railways have constituted a multi-disciplinary committee comprising top officials of the Railway Board to look into the problems faced by Loco Pilots and submit holistic recommendations.

The move comes days after the Leader of Opposition and MP Rahul Gandhi met Loco Pilots at New Delhi Railway Station. After the Loco Pilots complained about long working hours, inadequate rest and poor facilities while on duty, Mr. Gandhi posted a video on his social media page highlighting their concerns. A few MPs from Tamil Nadu also Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and sought his intervention to address the long-pending grievances of the Loco Pilots, especially adequate rest.

The committee would be chaired by the Executive Director (Rolling Stock) and have Executive Directors of Safety, Traction, Engineering and Traffic of the Railway Board as its members. They would discuss issues faced by Loco Pilots, especially working hours, periodical rest and basic amenities, with trade unions, official sources told The Hindu on Monday.

Among the issues to be considered were the demand to change the definition of high-speed train from the existing 110 kmph speed criteria to 130 kmph, deployment of co-pilot in EMU/MEMU trains, judicious utilisation of manpower and revisiting protocosl relating to deployment of Loco Pilots after Signal passed At Danger (SPAD) cases.

Another important demand flagged by the All India Loco Running Staff Association and other employees unions for “legislation of break for meal and attending nature’s call.” The committee would hold discussions with representatives of the unions and submit its report to the Railway Board before August 11, 2024, sources added.

Committee to study signal confusions

In the aftermath of major train accidents that led to multiple deaths in different zones and preliminary inquiries pointing to lapses in signalling system, the Ministry of Railways has also formed a high-level committee to study issues relating to differentiating of signals.

According to sources in the Southern Railway, the committee headed by the Chief Signal Engineer, North Central Railway, and top officials representing South Eastern Railway and Western Railway would study/deliberate upon issues in differentiating signals in the Third Line that runs along with Up and Down lines in non-suburban sections.

The committee, headquartered at New Delhi, would suggest viable solutions to avoid confusion. The Signal Branch in the Railway Board was nominated as the nodal agency to implement the recommendations, the sources said adding that confusion in reading signals wherever Third Line existed had prevailed though it could be differentiated on the basis of designated numbers and height (of the signals).

A Loco Pilot uses the Kavach in South Central Railway in which the brakes were applied automatically. File
| Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal

Safety issues are paramount after a spate of railway accidents, however, the Economic Survey 2023-24 released on July 22 indicates limited progress on safety-related works such as deployment of automatic train protection system Kavach and overhaul of signalling systems at all stations. 

Kavach, an automatic train protection (ATP) system, has been deployed on 1,465 route km in the South Central Railway, the Survey states. This is just 2.14% of the total railway network of 68,426 route km and 7,349 railway stations. 

So far, out of 17 operational railway zones in India, eight zones have become free from mechanical signalling, according to the Survey.  

Capex deployment

The Economic Survey also states that the capex deployment in railways has increased by 77% over past five years, ranging to ₹2.62 lakh crore in FY24 with significant investments in construction of new lines, gauge conversion and doubling.

However, till FY23, 2,981 railway stations had made the switch from mechanical signalling to electronic interlocking system, only up to 40% of India’s 7,325 railway stations. 

The Survey points out that in FY24, 443 additional stations made the switch, taking up the total number of stations which now have electronic interlocking systems up to 46%. 

Electronic interlocking (EI) systems were introduced in India 12 years ago. “Until March 31, 2024, EI has been provided at 3,424 stations,” the Survey says.   

Yet another signalling intervention Automatic Block Signalling (ABS), is a system that controls the movement of trains between the blocks using automatic signals, which helps trains operating in same direction safely without any risk of collision on the rear-end.

The Economic Survey points out that while the ABS is a proven low-cost signalling solution, it has been provided on 582 route km during FY24. Until March 31, 2024 since the time it was commissioned, the ABS has been commissioned on 4,431 route km on high-density network routes. This comprises 6.47% coverage across the length of Indian Railways. 

New Delhi:

In order to provide “convenience” to the general category passengers, Indian Railways has expanded the number of coaches in 46 important long-distance trains, by installing 92 new general category coaches in them, the Ministry of Railways said on Friday.

The trains in which coaches have been added include Bengaluru City Belagavi Superfast Express, Chennai Central Hubli Superfast Express, Mumbai Bengaluru Udayan Express, Mumbai Amravati Superfast Express Guwahati Lokmanya Tilak Express, Guwahati Jammu Tawi Express,

Further, 22 other trains have also been identified and a plan has been made to install additional general class coaches in them soon, the Ministry said.

The Ministry of Railways announced earlier this month that it has drawn up plans to manufacture another 10,000 non-AC coaches in 2024-25 and 2025-26 to cater to the increasing demand and enhance passenger comfort for the common man on its network.

A senior official unveiled the Ministry’s plan of ramping up production to roll out 4,485 non-AC coaches in the ongoing financial year (2024-25) and another 5,444 of these in 2025-26.

In addition, the Railways plans to roll out more than 5300 general coaches, to significantly enhance the capacity of its rolling stock.

A senior official of Indian Railways elaborating on this ambitious plan said in the current fiscal year, Indian Railway is set to manufacture 2605 general coaches, which includes specialised Amrit Bharat general coaches designed to enhance passenger amenities.

Alongside these, 1470 non-AC sleeper coaches and 323 SLR (Sitting cum Luggage Rake) coaches, including the coaches of Amrit Bharat coaches, 32 high-capacity parcel vans and 55 pantry cars, would be manufactured to cater to diverse passenger needs and logistical requirements.

In fiscal year 2025-26, Indian Railways aims to further augment its fleet with 2710 general coaches, continuing the inclusion of Amrit Bharat general coaches known for their advanced features.

The production targets for this period also include 1910 non-AC sleeper coaches including Amrit Bharat general coaches and 514 SLR coaches including Amrit Bharat sleeper coaches.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Several passengers travelling from Delhi to Varanasi on the Vande Bharat Express train encountered issues after the roof of the train started leaking. A video of the incident that has gone viral shows water leaking from the roof of the coach, leaving the seats drenched. Many passengers complained about the issue and slammed the Ministry of Railway for the poor management of trains.

”Look at Vande Bharat, one of the top passenger trains of India. Water is dripping from the roof. The track is Delhi-Varanasi and the train number is 22416,” an X user wrote while sharing the video. 

Watch the video here:

भारत की टॉप मोस्ट पैसेंजर ट्रेनों में एक वंदेभारत देखिए. छत से पानी टपक रहा है. दिल्ली-वाराणसी ट्रैक है और ट्रेन नंबर है 22416. pic.twitter.com/OoPiKbkQOr

— Sachin Gupta (@SachinGuptaUP) July 2, 2024

Responding to the video, the official handle of Northern Railway cited ”temporary blockage of pipes” as the reason behind the leakage and apologised for the inconvenience.

They wrote, ”Slight water leakage was observed in coach because of temporary blockage of pipes! The same was attended and rectified by the staff on the train . The inconvenience caused is regretted.”

Slight water leakage was observed in coach because of temporary blockage of pipes! The same was attended and rectified by the staff on the train .

The inconvenience caused is regretted.

— Northern Railway (@RailwayNorthern) July 2, 2024

However, several internet users expressed their anger and frustration at such situations and demanded better services from Railway authorities. One user wrote, ”Wow, incompetency at its peak.” Slight Leakage. It’s a brand-new train, what kind of pathetic manufacturing quality is this?? The roof is leaking clearly.”

Another commented, ”Vande Bharat, the first train with a shower. Passengers can now bathe while sitting in the rainy season.”

A third wrote, ”This is the condition of Vande Bharat train running from New Delhi to Varanasi. Water is dripping from the roof. People are not able to sit in their seats. The price being charged in Vande Bharat train is high, but the service is low.”

Notably, Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously manufactured, semi-high-speed, self-propelled train set. The train has state-of-the-art passenger amenities, providing passengers with a faster, more comfortable, and more convenient travel experience. These trains are equipped with world-class amenities and advanced safety features, including Kavach technology. 

New Delhi:

Observing that there was negligence and deficiency in services by the Indian Railway, a consumer commission here has directed its general manager concerned to pay more than Rs 1.08 lakh to a passenger whose luggage was stolen during a journey.

The District Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (Central District) was hearing the complaint which said the passenger’s bag containing valuables worth Rs 80,000 was stolen by some unauthorised passengers in January 2016 between Jhansi and Gwalior when he was travelling in a reserved coach of the Malwa Express.

“It was the duty of the railways for safe, secure and comfortable journey as well as safety and security of belongings of passengers,” the complaint said.

The commission, comprising its president Inder Jeet Singh and member Rashmi Bansal, said it had the territorial jurisdiction to try the case as the complainant boarded the train from New Delhi and there was “a continuity of the journey” till its arrival in Indore.

Besides, the office of the opposite party (General Manager, Indian Railway) was situated within the commission’s jurisdiction, it said in an order passed on June 3.

The commission rejected the argument of the railways that the complainant was negligent about her belongings and that the luggage was not booked.

Noting that the complainant was made to “run from pillar to post to register an FIR”, the commission said, “The manner in which the episode has happened and valuables were stolen followed by the efforts of the complainant to get the FIR registered with the authorities for appropriate enquiry or investigation, she suffered all kind of inconvenience and harassment to pursue her legal rights.” It said the complainant had established her case against the Indian Railway for negligence and deficiency in service as her belongings kept in a bag were stolen during her journey against reserved ticket.

“Had there been no negligence or deficiency in services on the part of the opposite party or its staff, there would be no such incident. There is no other defence or evidence to deny the value of the articles being carried by the complainant during her journey, therefore, the complainant is held entitled to reimbursement of loss of Rs 80,000,” the commission said.

It also awarded her Rs 20,000 as damages for suffering inconvenience, harassment and mental agony besides Rs 8,000 towards litigation cost.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

A train passenger has shared a photo of contaminated food received during the journey that is gaining traction on social media. The incident happened on Kashi Express on Monday when the passenger ordered food. The picture shows nearly invisible insect mixed along with a grain of rice on spoon. It has grossed out social media users, who demanded action. Indian railways took cognisance of the photo and asked the passenger to share the PNR number and contact details via direct message.

Posting the troubling photo, the X user also provided the specifics of his journey aboard train number 15018. Kashi Express runs between Gorakhpur and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Mumbai.

@AshwiniVaishnaw train no.15018 kashi express found insect on food pic.twitter.com/uLS5vJzw5A

— Parvez Hashmi (@parvezhashmi90) May 13, 2024

The user also tagged Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

The photo invited several comments from users who recalled their own experiences.

“You got premium Chinese thali at the price of veg… Railway may ask you to pay more,” commented one user. “That’s Proteins Bro. Good for Health. From Indian Railways,” said another.

“Even after paying premium prices, this is the service we get,” a third user said.

Railway Sewa also took notice of the post gaining traction and commented on the thread. “Sir, kindly share PNR and mobile number preferably in Direct Message (DM),” it said in the post.

Earlier this month, a review of Vande Bharat Express by a traveller from Kolkata went viral on X. She called the snacks offered onboard train “average” and “same as Shatabdi (another type of train).

The user also shared photos of the snack that showed packets of Diet Chivda Mixture, Roasted Peanut Chikki and a food item inside a paper bag.

She also posted a video of the washrooms, which the woman said impressed her the most.

The Ministry of Railways on Saturday refuted the claims made in a viral video on social media that the glass door of a train was smashed by a passenger who was not able to board the train. Taking to X (formerly Twitter), the ministry dismissed the claims and urged social media users to refrain from spreading misleading and old videos. It also shared a video showing all the glass doors of the said train intact. 

“Based on the internal investigation. No sun incident related to breaking of glass was reported. Kindly refrain from sharing old misleading videos,” the Ministry of Railways said. 

Take a look below: 

Based on the internal investigation. No such incident related to breaking of glass was reported. Kindly refrain from sharing old misleading videos. https://t.co/9TlYqVIVdrpic.twitter.com/hrBsf4MoAh

— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) April 20, 2024

The video surfaced online last week. The incident took place on Kaifiyat Express, according to the caption of the post. The clip shows a train passenger breaking the glass of a door to enter the coach. It also shows a packed third AC of the train, with passengers standing in the vestibule area of the coach. There is no space to move due to which the door, presumably, couldn’t be opened.

People are seen running on the platform, trying to get into their coach. Suddenly, one person notices a crack in the glass and asks a man sitting close to the door to move. Both cover their faces just in time as the glass shatters and a man standing on the platform is heard shouting and asking them to open the door.

Also Read | Man Loses iPhone 13, Xiaomi Civi 2 At Delhi’s Jama Masjid. He Explains How He Traced Them

They respond that the train is crowded and there is no space, but the man refuses to listen the breaks the remaining part of the glass. The men in the vestibule area then hurriedly move. The video ends abruptly and it is not known if the man was able to board the train. The post said that the man had confirmed the ticket and he wanted to desperately enter the train.

The video attracted a lot of comments, with users slamming the overcrowding of trains and claiming that the “state of affairs of Railways has gone down”. At the time, Northern Railway too reacted to the video, asking the RPF to look into the matter. RPF Delhi Division responded saying they informed the inspector in Ghaziabad.

New Delhi:

A user on the microblogging website X and the Railway Ministry took swipes at each other over a viral video of a crowded 2nd AC sleeper coach in which many people were seen allegedly travelling without a ticket.

The user, Kapil, alleged that the crowd had reached “one of the most premium coaches” of Indian trains.

“Only First AC is left to be destroyed,” he said on Friday while re-sharing an April 14 video of the overcrowded Kashi Express, which runs between Mumbai and Uttar Pradesh’s Gorakhpur.

The video was originally shared by a passenger on the train and showed people blocking the pathway to the washroom and standing at the entry and exit doors.

“Due to the open doors, the AC of the train was not working well,” he claimed and tagged Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, urging him to take necessary action.

This is not a General Coach
This is not a Sleeper Coach
This is not a 3AC Coach

This is a 2nd AC Coach!!

The crowd has reached one of the most premium coaches of Indian Trains. Only First AC is left to be destroyed by @AshwiniVaishnawpic.twitter.com/qyByUevhUd

— Kapil (@kapsology) April 19, 2024

The Ministry of Railways, however, responded to Kapil’s tweet on Saturday and shared a “present video of the coach”, which showed “no overcrowding”.

“Please don’t malign the image of Indian Railways by sharing misleading videos,” the Ministry said.

The present video of the coach. No overcrowding. Please don’t malign the image of Indian Railways by sharing misleading videos. https://t.co/70xQkhRVdTpic.twitter.com/ivz9LDyFly

— Ministry of Railways (@RailMinIndia) April 20, 2024

In response, the user pointed out that the Ministry shared today’s video to “call something misleading” that happened on April 14.

“Your intimidation is not going to stop the Indians from exposing the poor service offered by Indian Railways,” he wrote.

Railways To Operate Record Summer Train Trips

The Railway Ministry on Friday said that it will operate 43 per cent more train trips this summer as compared to last year to ensure that more passengers can travel to their desired destinations.

In a press statement, the Railway Ministry said that to ensure the convenience of passengers and manage the anticipated surge in travel demand during summer, it is operating a “record-breaking” 9,111 trips during this season.

“This marks a substantial rise compared to the summer of 2023, where a total of 6,369 trips were offered. This translates to an increase of 2,742 trips, demonstrating the Indian Railways’ commitment to meeting passenger demands effectively,” it said.

Out of these 9,111 train trips, the Western Railway will operate the highest number — 1,878 — followed by the North Western Railway with 1,623 trips. Other Railway zones, which will run a significant number of trips are the South Central Railway (1,012 trips) and the East Central Railway (1,003).

“All zonal railways spread across India have geared up to operate these additional trips catering to the summer travel rush from states like Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi,” the Ministry said.

Of late, there have been numerous grievances regarding overcrowding on trains. Now, in a recent troubling incident, a ticketless woman on a train refused to vacate a seat that she forcefully occupied. She argued with co-passengers who repeatedly asked her to leave the seat. At one point, she also claimed to be a Railways employee, based on which she felt “entitled” to the seat. The whole incident was caught on camera. X user Shonee Kapoor shared the clip on the microblogging site on Friday. The video not only left social media users enraged, but it also prompted a response from the Indian Railways. 

“The lady is occupying a reserved seat without a ticket. Refused to get up, arguing with everybody around. Best usage of #women-card,” Mr Kapoor wrote in the caption of the post. 

Take a look below: 

The lady is occupying a reserved seat without a ticket.
Refused to get up, arguing with everybody around.

Best usage of #women-card. pic.twitter.com/0dbxo9oVzS

— ShoneeKapoor (@ShoneeKapoor) April 19, 2024

The date and location of the incident is not known. However, the comments section of the video has been flooded with all kinds of reactions. Reacting to the clip, Railway Seva, the official account for support to passengers, asked for details for further investigation. “We request you to please share the journey details (PNR/UTS No.) and Mobile No. with us preferably via DM. You may also raise your concern directly on http://railmadad.indianrailways.gov.in or dial 139 for speedy redressal,” Railway Seva wrote. 

We request you to please share the journey details (PNR/UTS No.) and Mobile No. with us preferably via DM. You may also raise your concern directly on https://t.co/JNjgaq11Jl or dial 139 for speedy redressal.

— RailwaySeva (@RailwaySeva) April 19, 2024

Northern Railway also responded. “We request you to please share the journey details (PNR/UTS No.)” it said. 

Also read | Mumbai Man Justifies Littering After Throwing ‘Gutka’ Packet From Train, Railways React

Meanwhile, in the comments, users demanded stricter rules from authorities. 

“Some women feel too entitled these days for absolutely no reason !! This is not what women empowerment aims at!!” wrote one user. “Recently been seeing too many videos of the ticket less travellers harrassing the ones who actually reserved seats in advance. After watching these I would rather take a flight/ bus instead of trains,” commented another. 

“Wow, so much of arrogance sitting on someone else’s seat and doesn’t show courtesy to get up when the person who reserved requests. The admire the patience of the man who is requesting his seat. This lady must be fined and fired from her government job,” suggested a third user. 

“The main reason for such things is that there aren’t enough TCs or staff members to minimize these communication problems. No one will gain from such things becoming viral. A system to instantly inspect and validate the seat should exist,” expressed a user. 

Since being shared, the video has accumulated nearly 1 million views. 

Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated India’s first semi-high-speed regional rail service regional called ‘Namo Bharat’. The historic moment marked the introduction of the Regional Rapid Transit System (RRTS) in India. Notably, these trains have seen an average daily ridership of around 3000 since being opened for public use on October 21, 2023. Recently, an X user posted a stunning video of a Namo Bharat train crossing the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. The Eastern Peripheral Expressway is a 135 km long, six-lane expressway that passes through Uttar Pradesh and Haryana. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi was impressed with the visuals and applauded the user, calling it a ”great video.” He said that the user’s timeline gives a good perspective of the new India they are building together. 

”Stunning View of #Namo_Bharat train crossing Eastern Peripheral Expressway,” YouTuber Mohit Kumar who covers Infrastructure Projects, wrote on X while sharing the video. 

Watch the video here:

Great video…

Your Timeline gives a good perspective of the new India we are building together. https://t.co/sgiyKXeOrI

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 12, 2024

After getting a shout-out from the PM, Mr Kumar expressed his happiness and gratitude and wrote, ”I am thrilled by looking at responses post PM’s tweet on my work. My deepest gratitude towards 
@narendramodi ji for not only appreciating but also encouraging all the creators. Thank You so much, Sir. Today is a really good day.”

I am thrilled by looking at responses post PM’s tweet on my work.

My deepest gratitude towards @narendramodi ji for not only appreciating but also encouraging all the creators.

Thank You so much Sir. Today is the really good dayhttps://t.co/lyPXgxhXbjhttps://t.co/lbwn2UNmkP

— Mohit Kumar (@DetoxTravellerr) March 12, 2024

According to the Prime Minister’s office, ‘Namo Bharat’ is a transformational regional development initiative, which is designed to provide high-speed trains for intercity commuting. 

The 17-km priority section of the Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS Corridor, between Sahibabad and Duhai Depot, has five stations — Sahibabad, Ghaziabad, Guldhar, Duhai and Duhai Depot. 

RRTS trains prioritise passenger comfort with features like overhead storage, Wi-Fi, and charging options at each seat. CCTV cameras, an emergency door-opening mechanism and a button to communicate with a train operator are among the safety features of this train.

The entire 82.15 km Delhi-Ghaziabad-Meerut RRTS is targeted to be operational by June 2025.