GRADUAL RESTART OF TRAIN SERVICES ANNOUNCED

Bookings to start on IRCTC today at 4.00 pm

Monday, 11th May 2020

A gradual restart of services of the Indian Railways has been announced…as per reports, 15 long distance trains is to start on the various routes from the 12th of May, 2020.

The lockdown is nearing the close of its 3rd phase and Indian Railways have declared the plan to resume train services at a gradual pace. The train services of the Indian Railways had come to complete halt after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced complete nationwide lockdown in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. But now plans have been made for the first phase of resuming services with 15 trains for different routes. These Rajdhani expresses will run between Delhi and places like Howrah, Bhubaneswar, Bengaluru, Patna, Ranchi, Bilaspur, Dibrugarh, Secunderabad, Ahmadabad, Chennai, Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai Central, Madgaon, Jammu Tawi and Agartala.

 Here are some relevant details you need to learn. Read on:

• These trains will not be Shramik special trains but will be passenger trains that are likely to run on their full capacity on the 15 different Rajdhani rail routes.
• These trains will be completely air conditioned trains.
• The reservations for these trains are to start on the official IRCTC website from 4 pm today; i.e. 11th May; 2020.
• Apart from IRCTC website one could also book seats in these trains through a smart phone app.
• Booking via agents is not allowed.
• Counter booking will not be allowed
• No platform tickets will be offered to passengers
• You can enter platform only if you have confirmed train ticket.
• Passengers need to arrive at the platform 1 hr prior to departure
• The ticket price will match the usual rate card of Indian super fast trains.
• No tatkal booking or premium tatkal booking facilities will be currently available
• No concession of ticket price will be available as of now.
• Passengers are given a detailed list of instructions along with the tickets
• Linens and blankets may not be given to passengers travelling in these special AC trains to curb the chances of spreading of the virus. So, passengers will have to carry their own linens and blankets.
• Passengers with covid-19-like symptoms will not be allowed to board these special trains.
• Passengers will have to pass thorough screening prior to boarding these trains.
• Wearing of face shields will be compulsory for passengers travelling by these special Rajdhani expresses.
• There will be a set of special rules for running the air-conditioner inside the trains’ coaches. The AC temperatures may be kept a little higher than what it would be usually.
• Measures will be undertaken to ensure maximum fresh air supply within the coaches.

Source: India Today