New Delhi: In an announcement on Saturday, Indian Railways' Northern Railway zone said that the services of half a dozen Shatabdi Express trains will resume from the coming week. Around 50 other passenger trains were also notified to recommence services.
Railways had stopped operating a few trains beginning in the April month to curb the surge of Covid-19 cases due to the second wave. As the cases have started seeing a dip now, railways have decided to resume services again from the national capital, but in a phased manner.
As of Friday, about 983 mail and express trains were being operated daily, which is about 56 per cent of the pre-Covid level. Different states are looking into the Covid situation based on the fall or rise of cases in their states and accordingly taking measures to open-up transport services. As per the railways, the gradual increase in the number of trains is dependent upon demand and commercial justification.
"During the period from June 1 to June 18, approval for operating 660 additional mail/express trains has been given to the zonal railways," said the railways, adding that about 800 mail and express trains were in operation, as on June 1.
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Out of these, 552 mail and express trains and 108 holiday special trains.
Although the zonal railways have been advised to restore trains, but with consideration given to local conditions and the demand for tickets. Special emphasis is also said to be laid on the following of Covid-19 protocols in a graded manner.
Following Is The List of Shatabdis Resuming Services Soon:
02011 New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express Special
02012 Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express Special
02013 New Delhi-Amritsar Jn. Shatabdi Express Special
02014 Amritsar Jn-New Delhi Shatabdi Express Special
02015 Dehradun-New Delhi Shatabdi Express Special
02017 New Delhi-Dehradun Shatabdi Express Special
02005 New Delhi-Kalka Shatabdi Express Special
02030 Amritsar-New Delhi Shatabdi Express Special
02029 New Delhi-Amritsar Shatabdi Express Special
02045 New Delhi-Chandigarh Shatabdi Express Special
02046 Chandigarh-New Delhi Shatabdi Express Special
020056 Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express Special
Other Trains Resumed By Indian Railways
Delhi Sarai Rohilla-Jammu Tawi Duronto, Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Sri Shakti, Kalka-Shimla Express, Bilaspur Junction-New Delhi Express, Jammu Tawi-Yognagari Rishikesh Express, Lucknow-Prayagraj Sangam Express, Chhapra-Lucknow Junction Express and Farrukhabad-Chhapra Express.
Meanwhile, with the flattening of the coronavirus curve, the Indian Railways has added 660 more trains in June to facilitate the movement of migrant labourers and clear the waiting list in various origin-destination clusters, it said in a statement.