Indian Railways

RINL aims to make 55,000 wheels in FY24 to meet Railways' demand: CMD Bhatt

State-owned steel maker RINL is aiming to produce 55,000 wheels in the current financial year to meet the demand from Indian Railways, its CMD Atul Bhatt said. Visakhapatnam-based Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd (RINL) has set up a forged wheel plant at Lalganj, in Uttar Pradesh at an estimated cost of Rs 2,350-crore with a capacity to manufacture one lakh forged wheels per annum. "RINL supplied 2,465 Loco wheels and 2,639 LHB wheels to Railways in FY23. Preliminary Acceptance Certificate (PAC) has been issued for the plant and very soon production will be ramped up to 55,000 wheels in the current fiscal to meet the demand of Railways," he told PTI. The steel maker started supplying wheels in December 2021 when the first consignment of 51 loco wheels was flagged off from its Rae Bareli unit in Uttar Pradesh to the Railways. The targeted 50 per cent utilisation of the plant will significantly reduce the dependence on imports and help the national transporter to source the Made in India ..

Railway Board inspects working of Kavach system between two stations

Railway Board Chairman and CEO Anil Kumar Lahoti on Sunday inspected the working of KAVACH-- an indigenous Automatic Train Protection system -- between Lingampalli and Chitgidaa stations in Telangana. Lahoti travelled in one of the locomotives as part of the first-hand demonstration. The locomotives are equipped with KAVACH systems and he observed how the system automatically regulates the speed of the train while passing through the loop lines, how the whistling automatically happens while passing through the level crossing gates and how the system prevents the train from passing the signal at danger (SPAD), a release from South Central Railways (SCR) said here. He also oversaw how the KAVACH systems on the rolling stock helps in avoiding the train collisions either rear collision or head-on collision with the systems automatically applying brakes without the need for human intervention. The Railway Board Chairman also reviewed the working of Centre of Excellence for KAVACH ...

Inter-ministerial panel under GatiShakti recommends four rail projects

These projects will provide multimodal connectivity and seamless movement of goods and passengers, and increase logistics efficiency across the country

Vijayawada Railway Division logs highest gross earnings at Rs 5,306 cr

The South Central Railway (SCR) zone's Vijayawada Division has logged impressive financial metrics for the fiscal 2022-23, which include the highest ever gross earnings of Rs 5,306 crore and highest ever passenger revenue of Rs 1,247 crore among others, said an official on Thursday. Gross earnings rose by 66 per cent when compared to fiscal 2021-22 while the Division's previous best of Rs 5,136 crore was logged in 2018-19. Shivendra Mohan, divisional railway manager (DRM), said, "Divisional performance in 2022-23 is path breaking in the history of the Division, and exceeded the set targets and on all major fronts." Incidentally, the passenger revenues shot up by 70 per cent in comparison to Rs 730 crore recoded in the previous fiscal. However, freight business has emerged as the cash cow, contributing 74 per cent of the overall revenues, followed by 23 per cent from passenger business, 1.7 per cent from Other Coaching and 1.3 per cent from sundries. According to the DRM, 61.5 milli

Western Railway launches app for live-tracking of trains in Mumbai suburban

The Western Railway (WR) on Wednesday launched a mobile application that will allow commuters to check the live status of trains on its suburban network spread between Churchgate station in south Mumbai and Dahanu in adjoining Palghar district. According to the zonal railway, the app, 'Yatri', also has several other features. Western Railway general manager Ashok Kumar Misra launched the app at Churchgate station concourse in the presence of railway officials and other dignitaries, Sumit Thakur, chief public relations officer, WR, said in a press release. The Western Railway has installed GPS tracking devices in all its suburban trains, which will enable the app to provide their real-time location. Thakur said with this app, developed in collaboration with a private firm, commuters will not only be able to get a train's live location on map, but can also see it moving. In just three simple steps, commuters can view the live location. Commuters can find the nearest stations directl

IRCTC starts Bharat Gaurav Yatra train promoting Indian culture, heritage

IRCTC aims to promote the culture and heritage of the country with its Bharat Gaurav Yatra train covering the famous Sikh shrines of India

SER cancels 46 trains, short terminates 8 due to blockade of tracks in WB

At least 46 express and passenger trains were cancelled and eight others short terminated on Wednesday by the South Eastern Railway (SER) owing to an agitation and blockade at two railway stations in West Bengal by an organisation of the Kurmi community, an official said. In view of the agitation by members of the Kurmi community at Khemasuli station in West Medinipur district in Kharagpur-Tatanagar section of Kharagpur Division and Kustaur station in Purulia district in Adra-Chandil section of Adra Division from 5 am the 12814 Tatanagar-Howrah Steel Express, 12021 Howrah Barbil Jan Shatabdi Express, 12871 Howrah-Titlagarh Express were cancelled, a SER release said. The Kurmi community is demanding Scheduled Tribe status, an official said. The other trains cancelled were 08649 Adra-Purulia MEMU Special, 03595 Bokaro Steel City-Asansol MEMU Special, 03598 Asansol- Ranchi MEMU Special, 08650 Purulia-Adra MEMU Special, 18085 Kharagpur-Ranchi MEMU Express, 18116 Chakradharpur-Gomoh ...

Wabtec Corp plans to make Bihar factory into an export-oriented unit

A strong order book of around $1.5 billion itself is proof of Wabtec's growing strength in the Indian rail sector

Rail Vikas Nigam surges 9% after it bags order from NHAI, Indian Railways

The average trading volumes on the counter jumped three-fold as around 32.98 million shares changed hands on the NSE and BSE

Bhopal-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express breaches speed limit of 160 kmph

The maximum speed of the Bhopal-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express reached 161 kilometres per hour during its launch run on Saturday, breaching its expected speed limit of 160 kmph, officials said. The train that cuts the travel time between Bhopal and New Delhi by an hour, touched the speed of 161 kmph between Raja ki Mandi in Agra and Mathura, they added. A small stretch of the track between the Agra Cantonment and Nizamuddin railway stations has been designed in a manner to fit the speed limit. Earlier, the Ministry of Railways had said in an order that the Rani Kamalapati-New Delhi Vande Bharat Express train can run up to a maximum speed of 160 kmph over the Agra Cantonment-Tuglakabad section. Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the 11th Vande Bharat Express train on Saturday. The semi-high speed train was flagged off from the Rani Kamalapati railway station in Bhopal in the afternoon in the presence of Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Madhya Pradesh Governor Mangubhai Pate

Southern Railway reports highest-ever revenue at Rs 6,345 cr in FY23

Southern Railway on Sunday said it had recorded about 80 per cent jump in its revenue, which stood at Rs 6,345 crore in the passenger segment during the financial year 2022-23, its highest ever. During the corresponding period in the last financial year, it had earned revenues of Rs 3,539.77 crore. The highest revenue registered by Southern Railway before this was in the financial year 2019-20 at Rs 5,225 crore. About 640 million passengers travelled by Southern Railway in 2022-2023, which is a massive increase of 88.5 per cent over the 339.6 million passengers of 2021-22, an official release said. In the freight segment, Southern Railway said it had achieved many firsts, including the highest ever loading of cargo at 4.05 metric tonne, highest ever loading of petroleum at 5.2 metric tonne, and food grain loading at 3.23 metric tonne, among others. The railway zone generated its highest ever revenue from freight during the last financial year at Rs 3,637.86 crore as compared to Rs

Pharmacies to be set up at 270 stations in Eastern Railway zone: Official

Healthcare facilities such as pharmacies and collection centres for pathology laboratories will be established at 270 stations in the Eastern Railway zone by the end of this year, a senior official said here on Thursday. Eastern Railway General Manager Arun Arora said 14 railway stations will also have doctors. "In a bid to spread healthcare facilities to the remotest corner of its network, the Eastern Railway has awarded the contract for setting up healthcare-focused multi-utility stores at 270 stations for a period of five years," Arora told reporters. He said the stores, to be set up in PPP (public private partnership) model, will fetch Rs 16.92 crore over five years as license fee to the railways. These stores will provide services to railway users, railway employees and locals, he said.

Over 979,000 vacant posts in govt, maximum of 293,000 in railways: Centre

Over 9.79 lakh vacancies exist in different central government departments, including a highest of 2.93 lakh in railways, as on March 1, 2021, Union Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said on Wednesday. He said the occurrence and filling up of vacancies is a continuous process, as per the requirement of various ministries, departments and organisations of the Central government. "Government has already issued instructions to all ministries/departments for timely filling up of the unfilled posts. Rozgar melas being organised by government of India are expected to act as catalyst in further employment generation," he said in a written reply. Besides railways, there were 2.64 lakh vacant posts in defence (civil), 1.43 lakh in home, 90,050 in posts, 80,243 in revenue, 25,934 in Indian audit and accounts department, and 9,460 in atomic energy department among others, Singh said, citing the annual report of the department of expenditure.

Railway line to Kohima to be completed by 2026: Northeast Frontier Rail

NF Railways CPRO Sabysachi De on Tuesday asserted that the construction work has been going on in full swing and they are fully confident to complete the project within the deadline

CAG raises concerns over 330,000 wagons being operated without NCO approval

More than 3.30 lakh repaired wagons were operated without NCO approval and this has compromised safety, according to a new report by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India. Neutral Control Office in workshops/yards are meant for independent examination of repaired wagons or those that go undergo periodic overhauls before their actual handing over to open line for operations. An NCO approval is vital as wagons repaired in workshops are subjected for a check by the Neutral Train Examiner (NTXR). Only those certified fit can be inducted into service. Those found defective by NTXR are detained for further attention. "More than 3.30 lakh wagons constituting 41 per cent of total were passed locally (without NCO approval) after being repaired at workshops/terminal yards, compromising safety," the CAG report said. It also said that an analysis of the FOIS (Freight Operations Information System) data for 2016-17 to 2020-21 revealed that the halt time was close to half of the total tra

Meet Rosaline Mary, the first woman ticket checker to collect Rs 1 cr fine

Ever since the post was shared, it has garnered over 44.5k views with 836 likes and 395 retweets. Many users appreciated Mary for her efforts and her commitment to her work

Railways restores fare of AC 3-tier economy class travel in trains

Railways on Wednesday issued an order to restore the fare for AC 3-tier economy class travel which had been withdrawn in November last year when it was merged with AC 3-tier. Despite the restoration in price, Railways will continue offering linen to passengers, the order indicated. The present order has withdrawn an earlier circular in which the fare for AC 3-tier economy class ticket had been made equal to the fare of an AC 3-tier ticket. The reason for the merger was stated to be the cost of linen which was initially not provided in the economy air conditioned class. According to the order, passengers who have booked tickets online and over the counter will be given a refund of the extra amount for the pre-booked tickets. The railways, while introducing the 3E as a class in September 2021, had announced that fares in these newly-introduced coaches will be 6-8 per cent less than normal AC 3 coaches, pitching the class of travel as the "best and cheapest AC travel service" in the .

Railway meting out injustice to managers in terms of pay: Employees' union

The Railway Board is treating train drivers and managers in the "most inhuman manner" and meting out injustice to them in terms of their pay and duty hours, its largest employees' union alleged as it staged protests across the country on Monday. All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) general secretary Shiva Gopal Mishra demanded that the authorities address the long-pending demands and grievances of the "running staff" without any further delay as there is a serious sense of disappointment and resentment brewing among them. According to the AIRF, all loco pilots -- shunting, goods trains, passenger trains, and express/mail -- are placed in a common pay-level under the seventh Central Pay Commission. The shunting loco pilot pilots a loco from platform to shed and back. "Similarly, traffic running staff, or trains managers, are also allotted same pay scale from Trains Manager (Passenger) to Trains Managers (Mail/Express). The pay scales of the loco and traffic running staff have not

World-class rail stations to be set up in Rajasthan, says Ashwini Vaishnaw

Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw on Sunday said world-class stations will be set up in Rajasthan which has seen a multifold increase in grants for the rail sector. Addressing a 'Brahmin Mahapanchayat' called by Vipra Sena, he said, "The grant given to Rajasthan 10 years ago was Rs 600 crore, but this time the state has got a grant of Rs 9,532 crore." Vaishnaw said world-class railway stations will be built in Abu Road, Ajmer, Alwar, Asalpur, Jobner, Balotra, Bandikui, Chittorgarh and Dausa, among other places. "We have to give a new future to Rajasthan," he said. In the programme, the Vipra Sena raised multiple demands such as increasing the 10 per cent reservation for the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) to 14 per cent, making misbehaviour and assault on priests a non-bailable offence and removing encroachments from temple lands. The BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Ghanshyam Tiwari said a board for the Hindu religion should be made on the lines of the Waqf board. Former BJP state presi

Top headlines: Rajesh Gopinathan quits as TCS CEO, Rlys plans concessions

Business Standard brings you the top headlines at this hour