Lok Sabha Question No. 4803 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-24
Subject: Resumption of Train Operations
Ministry: RAILWAYS
Asked by: Bhagirath Chaudhary, Sunil Kumar Singh, Devji Mansingram Patel

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4803 TO BE ANSWERED ON 24.03.2021

## RESUMPTION OF TRAIN OPERATIONS

†4803.     SHRI BHAGIRATH CHOUDHARY: SHRI SUNIL KUMAR SINGH : SHRI DEVJI M. PATEL:

Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:

- (a) the details of the number of various categories of passenger trains, express trains, mail, superfast and MEMU train services which were running in the country before lock down, zone and division-wise;
- (b) the number of special trains that started running again after lockdown;
- (c)     whether these trains contain unreserved general class coaches;
- (d)    if so, the time by when the remaining trains are likely to resume their operations as before the lockdown period;
- (e)    whether stoppages at several railway stations have been removed during the resumption of the operation of the trains, if so, the details and the reasons therefor; and
- (f)     the details of the railway stations/trains on which the stoppages have been removed after resumption of the operation of trains, divisionwise?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, COMMERCE & INDUSTRY AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD & PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)

- (a) to (f)  A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) TO (f) OF UNSTARRED QUESTION  NO.  4803  BY    SHRI  BHAGIRATH  CHOUDHARY,    SHRI  SUNIL KUMAR  SINGH  AND    SHRI  DEVJI  M.  PATEL  TO  BE  ANSWERED  IN  LOK SABHA ON 24.03.2021 REGARDING RESUMPTION OF TRAIN OPERATIONS

- (a) and  (b)  Trains  on  Indian  Railways  are  operated  on  Zonal  Railways' ownership basis. The zone-wise details of average daily number of trains operated  during  pre-COVID  period  and  that  being  operated  presently  is tabulated below:

|                            | Pre-COVID                           | Pre-COVID                         | Pre-COVID   | At present                          | At present                        | At present   |
|----------------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|-------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------|--------------|
|                            | Average Mail/Express Trains per day | Average Passengers Trains per day | Total       | Average Mail/Express Trains per day | Average Passengers Trains per day | Total        |
| Central Railway            | 143                                 | 145                               | 288         | 99                                  | 5                                 | 104          |
| East Coast Railway         | 66                                  | 95                                | 161         | 44                                  | 0                                 | 44           |
| East Central Railway       | 111                                 | 313                               | 424         | 90                                  | 123                               | 213          |
| Eastern Railway            | 106                                 | 271                               | 379         | 116                                 | 189                               | 305          |
| Konkan Railway             | 9                                   | 13                                | 22          | 7                                   | 0                                 | 7            |
| North Central Railway      | 44                                  | 144                               | 188         | 39                                  | 15                                | 54           |
| North Eastern Railway      | 85                                  | 225                               | 310         | 67                                  | 44                                | 111          |
| Northeast Frontier Railway | 74                                  | 159                               | 233         | 59                                  | 24                                | 83           |
| Northern Railway           | 313                                 | 626                               | 939         | 197                                 | 49                                | 246          |
| North Western Railway      | 86                                  | 165                               | 251         | 77                                  | 24                                | 101          |
| South Central Railway      | 129                                 | 292                               | 421         | 88                                  | 0                                 | 88           |

| South East Central Railway   |   30 |   141 |   171 |   18 |   25 |   43 |
|------------------------------|------|-------|-------|------|------|------|
| South Eastern Railway        |   87 |   164 |   251 |   52 |   53 |  105 |
| Southern Railway             |  203 |   342 |   545 |  168 |    9 |  177 |
| South Western Railway        |   97 |   192 |   289 |   79 |   45 |  124 |
| West Central Railway         |   51 |    63 |   114 |   43 |    0 |   43 |
| Western Railway              |  134 |   284 |   418 |   97 |   58 |  155 |
| TOTAL -                      | 1768 |  3634 |  5404 | 1340 |  663 | 2003 |

(c)  The  Special  trains  presently  being  operated  do  have  unreserved coaches  in  their  composition.    However,  in  view  of  pandemic  situation, unreserved  second  class  in  long  distance  Mail/Express  trains,  has  been declared as reserved second class. (d)  to  (f)  To  prevent  the  spread  of  COVID-19  pandemic,  Indian  Railways discontinued all regular passenger carrying trains w.e.f. 23 rd  March, 2020 and presently only special trains, with limited stoppages, keeping in view the  suggestions  and  concerns  of  the  State  Governments  are  being operated.      The  numbers  of  services  are  being  increased  in  a  phased manner and as on 19 th  March, 2021, Indian Railways has started operation of  a  total  of  8634  train  services  which  includes  2402 Mail/Express trains and  851  Passenger  trains.  Besides,  Indian  Railways  is  keeping  a  close watch on the situation by regularly monitoring the waiting list, undertaking temporary augmentation, operating clone train (wherever required) and is resuming  train  services  in  a  phased  manner  keeping  in  view  the  health protocols and feedback from the States.

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