The Konkan Railway has had a successful year. The special trains set up to cater to seasonal rush has been used by a record 12 lakh passengers, up from 8 lakh last year. There is a possibility of even more trains next year.
“This year, Konkan Railway ran the highest number of special trains on its route. As many as 844 special trains were run in 2013 (784 in the financial year 2013-14 up to December), which is an increase of 57 per cent as compared to last year’s 537,” said Vaishali Patange, chief public relation officer, Konkan Railway.
These special trains were run for catering to heavy rush seasons like summer vacations and during festivals, etc.
On and above the special trains, it even added 1,724 coaches with the regular trains for clearing passengers on waiting-list.
Due to an increase in passenger traffic in the present financial year (2013-14) a total of Rs267.15 crore has been earned as compared to Rs226 crore in the corresponding period, last year.
Given the record increase of passenger as well as freight traffic on a single line of Konkan Railway, there are various plans to augment its capacity including doubling of railway track.
On any given month, people find it difficult to get confirmed tickets to and fro of Goa, thereby plans afoot to increase regular trains between Mumbai and Goa. The other idea is to start double decker air-conditioned trains between Mumbai and Goa, which dna was the first to report earlier this month.
“Given the rush and demand of passengers, the total number of passenger trains will keep increasing every year, we cannot decrease the number of services,” said Patange.
The NYE rush
Anticipating extra rush of passengers on New Year’s eve, the Western Railway and the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking will run special trains and buses respectively on December 31. “Four-Virar bound and equal number of Churchgate trains will be plied by us,” informed a WR spokesperson.
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