12 new trains, including 3 'Garib Raths', for Northern Railway

New Delhi, Feb 24 (UNI) Railway Minister Lalu Prasad today announced introduction of as many as 12 new trains, including three air conditioned 'Garib Rath' for the Northern Railway division during this fiscal.

He proposed to introduce the following services during 2006-07: Sonpur-Chhapra-Jammu Tawi Mour Dhwaj Express (weekly), Delhi-Patna Garib Rath (AC) (weekly), Delhi-Mumbai Garib Rath (AC) (weekly), Delhi-Chennai Garib Rath (AC) (weekly), Delhi (New Azadpur)-Saharsa Poorabiya Express via Lucknow (weekly), Rae Bareli-Pratapgarh-Lokmanya Tilak (T) Link Express (bi-weekly), Delhi-Raibareli Express (tri-weekly), Pune-Lucknow Express(weekly), Bhuj-Bareilly Express (tri-weekly), Jabalpur-Jammu Tawi Express (weekly), Jaipur-Amritsar Express (bi-weekly) and Jallandhar City-Nakodar DMU (daily).

After running Delhi-Bhopal Shatabdi at 150 kmph in Delhi-Agra section, it was planned to soon start a 150-kmph passenger train on the Delhi-Kanpur-Lucknow route also.

The minister informed that the national Jammu-Baramulla rail project was progressing expeditiously and on Udhampur-Srinagar-Baramulla line, sections from Udhampur to Katra and Quazigund to Badgam had been targeted for completion this year.

Trains were already running uptill Udhampur and completion of the Udhampur-Katra section would provide rail link to the famous pilgrim centre of 'Mata Vaishno Devi'.

Additional funds had been sought from Finance Ministry for the project and the funds would be made available by the ministry during the course of the year depending on the progress of the work, he added.

It was decided to initiate major technological upgradations and introduce high-tech passenger coaches for more trains in the division.

Modern German (LHB) design passenger coaches of new technology that were currently only available in Lucknow-New Delhi Shatabdi Express and Mumbai-New Delhi Rajdhani and August Kranti Express, would be found in Patna and Sealdah Rajdhanin and some more Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains in the coming year.

Four popular trains would be provided with the world-class passenger amenities and interiors. The four trains are: Hazrat Nizamuddin-Gwalior Taj Express, New Delhi-Patna Sampoorn Kranti Express, New Delhi-Barauni Vaishali Express and Chennai-Bangalore Vrindavan Express. Passengers could then relish the experience of traveling in this modern, done-up coaches.

Services of four trains would be extended and frequency of another four would be increased while one would be re-routed.

Ongoing projects like laying new lines, gauge conversion and doubling were also expected to be completed.

UNI IP VD HS2009