For providing connectivity to each part of country, Indian Railways has started running 30 AC specials and 200 additional special trains from 12.05.20 and 01.06.20 respectively. Of these 26 AC and 100 additional special trains have scheduled stoppages at different stations over NCR including two pairs of originating special trains between Prayagraj- New Delhi and Kanpur- New Delhi .
This is probably first time in history of train operations when Railway is formally requesting passenger not to travel unless it is very essential, yet these special trains have been operationalized to ensure that connectivity across the length and breadth of country is provided to meet essential travel needs amid Covid-19. Originating and passing special trains on North Central Railway are providing connectivity to important destinations like New Delhi , Amritsar Howrah , Mumbai , Pune ,Vaso de gama , Guwahati , Bengaluru , Chennai , Ernakulam , Patna , Ranchi , Bhubaneshwar , Ahmedabad , Surat ,Nanded, Lucknow , Gorakhpur , Varanasi , Jabalpur, Bhopal etc from different stations of North Central Railway .
Under the new normal condition to fight Covid-19, travelling pattern has also evolved differently and highly patronized services of Prayagraj and Shramshakti express are running with relatively less average occupancy of 73% and 52 % since introduction in form of special trains w.e.f. 01.06.20, yet Railway is committed to run these trains in efficient manner to ensure each essential travel needs is met . With continuous monitoring, efficient operations and impeccable maintenance of assets, North Central Railway has achieved excellent punctuality performance of 86.8% for special trains in the period from 1st to 7th of June, 2020. Of total 538 special trains reported in this period on NCR territory 467 trains were run on time .
Efficient and timely running of trains over North Central Railway is also evident from the fact that average daily kilometer running of Electric and Diesel locomotives in May 2020 have been -568 and 439 kilometers per day which has substantially improved by 15 % from May 19 figures indicating detention free running of all types of trains over NCR territory .
With hallmark mobility North Central Railway is committed to continue running all trains efficiently however it’s again requested that passenger should travel only when it is very essential following all the protocols for safe rail travel during Covid-19 time.
