EXPANDING RAILWAY SERVICES AND RECORD-BREAKING PERFORMANCES
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Reporting By journalist Faizul Shaikh
In an impressive show of service expansion and operational excellence, Eastern Railway has made a significant stride in this fiscal. Here's a glimpse into the recent accomplishments and new initiatives:
1.Unprecedented Special Trains: An additional 851350 berths generated, to accommodate festive explorers, holiday nomads, seasonal wanderers and business travellers. To meet the surge in passenger demand, Eastern Railway has run a total of 142 special trains, in various directions viz. Bhagalpur – New Delhi, Malda Town – New Delhi, Malda Town – Khatipura, Howrah – Raxual , Kolkata – Jaynaga, Malda Town – Lalkuan, Malda Town – Digha, Howrah- Muzaffarpur-,Kolkata- Patna, Sealdah – Jagi Road-, Howrah- Hisar, Howrah- Madar Jn., Malda Town- Anand vihar ,Sealdah-Lucknow, Sealdah – Gorakhpur, Sealdah – Vododara ,Ranchi - Bhagalpur Bhagalpur – Paldhi, Asansol- Valsad , Bhagalpur – Haridwar ,Kolkata- Dibrugarh ,Kolkata - Danapur ,Howrah – Gandhidham, Bhagalpur – Dahod and many more. This proactive approach underscores Eastern Railway's commitment to meeting the evolving needs of passengers. These special trains offered passengers an opportunity to travel comfortably and securely to their desired destinations, providing a seamless and hassle-free journey experience.
2.Record-Breaking Train-On-Demand (TOD) Services: April 2024 saw a remarkable 196% increase in the trips of Train-On-Demand Special Trains, with 355 trips conducted compared to 181 trips during the same period last year.
3.Introduction of Vistadome Coaches: Enhancing passenger experience, Eastern Railway introduced Vistadome coaches in two trains – the Howrah – Radhikapur – Howrah Kulik Express (13053/13054) and the Asansol – Hatia – Asansol Express (13513/13514).
4.Extended Routes for Farakka Express: The 13413/13414 and 13483/13484 Malda Town – Bhatinda – Malda Town Farakka Express trains have been extended from Malda Town to Balurghat, providing greater connectivity for passengers.
5.IGBC Green Railway Station Achievement: Sealdah Division proudly achieved the IGBC Green Railway Station (GOLD Rating Certificate) on March 28, 2024, showcasing its commitment to sustainable practices.
8.Expansion of Solar Power: New solar plants have been installed at various locations, adding a total capacity of 1545 KWp, bringing the cumulative capacity over Eastern Railway to 20.06 MWp by April 2024.
9.Advanced Electronic Interlocking Systems: State-of-the-art Electronic Interlocking has been commissioned at Dum Dum, featuring 346 routes. Similarly, Barddhaman Up Yard's Lever Frame Cabin has been upgraded to an Electronic Interlocking Cabin with 82 routes.
10.Freight and Revenue Growth: Eastern Railway achieved a total freight loading of 7.98 million tonnes in April 2024, a substantial increase from 6.31 million tonnes in April 2023. Correspondingly, goods revenue soared to ₹724.38 crore, compared to ₹582.33 crore in the same period last year. Passenger revenue also saw an 11.88% rise, reaching ₹300.35 crore in April 2024, up from ₹268.46 crore in April 2023.
11.Innovative Dining and Technological Advancements: A new "Restaurant on Wheels" has been introduced at Bhagalpur station, enhancing the dining experience for railway passengers. Additionally, Eastern Railway is set to begin field trials of the Gandhvedh device in 10 trains, implementing an IoT-based real-time monitoring system for train toilets.
This continuous progress in expanding services & amenities is setting new benchmarks in passenger satisfaction and operational efficiency.
































