Northern Railway Plans 3,144 Special Train Trips for Festival Travel

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th Oct. The Northern Railway has announced its largest-ever initiative, planning 3,144 special train trips from October 1 to November 30 to facilitate passenger travel for the upcoming festivals. This effort is aimed at helping individuals return to their native places to celebrate with family.

Ashok Kumar Verma, General Manager of Northern Railway, highlighted, “Northern Railway has planned the highest number of trips, with 3,144 scheduled from October 1, 2024, to November 30, 2024. Approximately 85 percent of these festival special trains will cater to passengers traveling eastward to Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Assam.”

Specifically, 195 trips have been organized from October 26 to November 7 to ensure smooth and comfortable travel during the Diwali and Chhath festivals, an increase from 138 trips last year during the same period. Verma stated that during this 13-day period, Northern Railway will operate 65 extra trains daily from Delhi, providing an additional 1.20 lakh berths for passengers.

Additionally, regular trains will undertake 123 special trips to accommodate the increased passenger volume. Northern Railway has also announced that 49 extra coaches will be added to significant trains between October 26 and November 7, resulting in a total of 1,70,434 extra berths available, compared to 1,48,750 last year.

To manage the anticipated crowd at New Delhi Railway Station during the festive season, Verma mentioned several “game-changing innovations.” For instance, popular eastbound trains like the Bihar Sampark Kranti and Sampoorn Kranti will be operated from Platform Number 16, which has a dedicated entry for unreserved passengers for the first time.

To enhance crowd management, temporary waiting areas, inquiry counters, mobile toilets, catering stalls, and medical facilities will be established at key stations, including New Delhi, Old Delhi, Anand Vihar Terminal, and Hazrat Nizamuddin. Special security measures, including the deployment of dog squads and baggage scanners, will also be implemented at all entry gates.

As part of its ongoing commitment to passenger comfort and safety, Northern Railway aims to ensure a smooth travel experience during this festive season.