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Protests greet Piyush Goyal at Rajdhani unveiling

Driver change at Bhusaval station unfair, will expose them to unknown terrain, say drivers

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The train made its inaugural run on Saturday
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After 27 years, Mumbai got a new Rajdhani train, and the first on Central Railway. However, the inauguration on Saturday was marked by a protest by loco pilots (drivers of long-distance trains). The Rajdhani, which will ply between Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and Hazrat Nizamuddin, was to be flagged off by Railway Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday. But as Goyal reached the venue in the afternoon, he was greeted by protesting drivers.

The train drivers were on a flash protest at platforms 10 and 11 of CSMT station, and then headed to platform 18 where the train — beautifully decorated with ribbons and balloons — was scheduled to depart at 2.50 pm. Goyal arrived at 1.40 pm. The first thing he did was to wave the green flag. But at the same time, a group of loco pilots, headed by railway unions, stood next to the Rajdhani's engine and began shouting slogans.

The reason being the loco pilots usually drive till Igatpuri, at which point a new loco pilot takes over. But with the Rajdhani, the operational change will happen only at Bhusawal. "The drivers are experienced to maneauvre till Igatpuri through ghats, curvatures and several signals. But the terrain beyond this is unknown to the drivers from Mumbai division. This can be a big safety issue for the passengers," said a Union leader at the protest.

"It will be difficult for a loco pilot to ride a multi-tonne train on stretches where distances between signals are large, unlike on the Mumbai-Igatpuri stretch," said a loco pilot.

Sources at Central Railway, however, said they will give a minor halt at Igatpuri, letting another loco pilot board. The union leaders said the administration has promised them that for the time being, the second driver from Igatpuri will teach the driver from CSMT about the stretch till Bhusawal.

Meanwhile, the first Rajdhani train was fully booked in under five hours. It arrived in Nashik 11 minutes early and in Igatpuri 22 minutes early. The Rajdhani will leave from CSMT every Wednesday and Saturday at 2.50 pm and arrive at Hazrat Nizamuddin at 10.20 am the next morning. It will depart Hazrat Nizamuddin every Thursday and Sunday at 4.15 pm and arrive at CSMT at 11.55 am.

SALIENT FEATURES OF NEW RAJDHANI

  • First train where passengers can enjoy 3D graphics depicting heritage structures on a VR headset. 
     
  • WiFi will be available in 1AC for passengers at a price of Rs 500 to watch preloaded infotainment. 
     
  • Water saving aerator in taps will help save more than 50 percent water.
     
  • The fare for a 1AC ticket on the train is Rs 5,025, while it’s Rs 2,990 and Rs 2,160 for 2AC and 3AC respectively.
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