page_title: Western Railway zone
section_title: Western Railway Operations during COVID-19 and Lockdown
hierarchical_section_title: Western Railway zone / Western Railway Operations during COVID-19 and Lockdown
caption_attribution_description: English: Migrants with families heading towards their native states on Shramik Special Trains
context_page_description: The Western Railway is one of the 18 zones of Indian Railways, and is among the busiest railway networks in India. The major railway routes of Indian Railways which come under Western Railways are: Mumbai Central - Ratlam, Mumbai Central - Ahmedabad and Palanpur - Ahmedabad. The railway system is divided into six operating divisions: Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Ratlam, and Mumbai WR. Vadodara railway station, being the junction point for the Ahmedabad - Mumbai route and the Mumbai - Ratlam route towards New Delhi, is the busiest junction station in Western Railways and one of the busiest junctions of Indian Railways too, while Ahmedabad Division earns highest revenue followed by Mumbai Division and Vadodara Division. Surat railway station is one of the busiest railway station in Western Railway in non-junction category where more than 160 trains pass per day.
  Western Railway General Manager's official bungalow 'Bombarci' is located on Altamont road in Cumbala hill, Mumbai.
context_section_description: Due to ongoing lockdown in India and subsequent suspension of regular train services, Indian Railways has started Shramik Special Trains from various parts of India to carry migrant laborers stranded in various cities. Western Railway also started its Shramik Special operations on 02, May 2020. Trains are being run by WR from various cities on its jurisdiction to states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Orissa, Rajasthan & Madhya Pradesh.   By 31 July 2020, WR has run around 1234 Shramik Special Trains carrying more than 18.5 lakh migrants to their home states. WR is following all social distancing norms and running these trains as per the request from the state governments. 
  
  Indian Railways is also running parcel trains and goods trains with increased efficiency so as to transport essential items across the country. Railways has ensured that the supply chain is maintained and there is no scarcity of essential items and medicines in the country. 
  
  From 12th May Indian Railways also started a limited number of passenger services of which 2 were from Western Railway. Further from 1 June 2020, 17 more services were introduced on WR as special trains. The regular train operations have still not begun.  On arrival at the destination, the passenger has to follow all COVID safety norms made applicable by the respective states. WR carries out thermal checking if the passengers before boarding and the passengers have to report 90min before the departure of the train. The onboard ticket checking staff has been provided PPE kits. 
  Western Railway COVID warriors- all front line staff are braving the risk and running the services to ensure that the supplies are maintained and the needy reach their homes.
caption: Migrant labourers with families returning back home
exif: {}