Lok Sabha Question No. 694 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-06-26
Subject: Upgradation of Trains
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Raksha Nikhil Khadse

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK  SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 694 TO BE ANSWERED ON 26.06.2019

## UPGRADATION OF TRAINS

694.  SHRIMATI RAKSHA NIKHIL KHADSE:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  recently  upgraded  additional  trains  to superfast category thereby levying additional charges applicable for all class of travel for superfast trains;
- (b) if so, the list of the trains recently proposed for upgradation;
- (c)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  corrective  steps  to  maintain  the punctuality  of  trains  especially  for  the  category  of  Superfast  and  Premium trains  like  Rajdhani,  Shatabdi,  Duranto,  Humsafar,  Tejas  etc.  for  which  the passengers  have  paid  more  fares  to  reach  the  destinations  as  per  the scheduled  time  with  all  halting  stations  strictly  observing  the  scheduled arrival and departure; and

(d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY

## (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a)  &  (b)  Speeding  up  of  Mail/Express  trains  and  converting  trains  into superfast services thereby levying applicable charges is an ongoing process on  Indian  Railways.  Accordingly,  during  the  year  2018-19,  11309/11310 Solapur-Miraj Express  has  been  converted  into superfast and  is being operated  as  22155/22156  Solapur-Miraj  Superfast  Express  w.e.f.  07.06.2018. Similarly,  11051/11052  Solapur-Shri  Chhatrapati  Shahu  Maharaj  (T)  Express and  19061/19062  Bandra  (T)-Ramnagar  Express  are  being  converted  into superfast w.e.f. 01.07.2019.

(c)  &  (d)  Punctuality  of  passenger  carrying  trains  including  Superfast  trains and Premium trains like Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Duronto, Humsafar, Tejas etc. is being monitored rigorously on a daily basis at Divisional, Zonal and Railway Board levels by Divisional Railway Managers (DRMs), General Managers (GMs) and Railway Board Members and Senior officers. Efforts are made to ensure right  time  starts  at  originating  station  and  also  to  maintain  punctuality  at enroute  halting  stations.  To  ensure  running  of  these  trains  right  time  when pairing  trains  are  running  late,  scratch  rakes  are  inducted  and  rakes  are standardized  to  the  extent  operationally  feasible.  Also,  various  steps  have been  initiated  to  improve  punctuality  such  as  prioritization  of  preventive maintenance  of  assets  to  minimize  asset  failures,  capacity  enhancement projects by construction of additional loop lines at stations, doubling, construction  of  third  line  corridors,  automatic  signaling,  construction  of limited height subways to replace level crossings, Road Under Bridges (RUB) and  Road  Over  Bridges  (ROB)  etc.  Besides,  punctuality  drives  are  launched from  time  to  time  and  staff  involved  in  train  operations  are  sensitized.  In addition, Zonal Railways have also been advised to have better coordination with Civil and Police authorities of States to deal with situations arising out of law and order problems.

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