Indian Railways Will Convert Many Passenger Trains into Express Trains

Indian Railways is preparing to convert some of its passenger trains into express trains. 512 passenger trains will run as express trains.

Indian Railways, which has lost millions of rupees due to COVID-19, is now trying to regain its old rhythm. The Railways is preparing to convert some of its passenger trains into express trains to make up for the losses incurred during the last three months.

Indian Railways is preparing to run 512 passenger trains into express trains. These trains will run between Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi. Railways have decided that passenger trains travelling more than 200 kilometres will be converted into express trains. Express trains have a higher speed than passenger trains and have fewer stoppages.

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53 trains of Northern Railway will be converted from Passenger to Express

According to railway officials, there are about 53 trains of Northern Railway among the trains converted from Passenger to Express. These trains will run between Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Among all the trains of Northern Railway, nine will run from Delhi. It will also include MEMU and DEMU trains. Trains running from Delhi will operate on the Haridwar, Kurukshetra, Hisar, Shahjahanpur, Ambala and Kalka routes.

These Passenger Trains of Delhi will be Converted into Express

According to the railway official, nine passenger trains of Delhi zone will be changed to express trains:

1. Delhi to Haridwar Junction (54475)Haridwar to Delhi Junction (54476)
2. Delhi to Kalka Passenger (54303)
3. Delhi to Ambala Passenger (54539)
4. Delhi to Rishikesh Passenger (54471)
5. Delhi to Hisar (54309)
6. Delhi to Ferozepur Cantt (54641)
7. Delhi to Shahjahanpur (54076)
8. Delhi to Kurukshetra Junction (74013)

Moreover, six passenger trains running through Surat, including Surat-Bhusawal passenger, are also included in this list.

Passengers Have To Book the Confirm Seats to Travel in These Trains

The speed of trains will be increased to an average of 100 km per hour. Passengers will be able to travel only after getting their booking of a confirmed seat so that social distancing can be maintained. The fare of these trains will also increase.

Currently, Intercity Express also runs from Kanpur, more than 200 km away. It already has express status.

Some Passengers May Face Inconvenience with This Decision

After converting passenger trains to express, the fare will be charged as an express class – More than the passenger trains. Each passenger will have to pay 20 to 60 rupees more as fare.

Apart from that, if the Railways take this decision, then it will directly affect the passengers who travel to smaller stations. If the passenger trains are converted into an express train, then their stoppages at the smaller stations will no longer continue.

However, it has been reported that from July 1, the Railways can operate some passenger trains as express trains. In this regard, DRM Prayagraj Amitabh says that no final decision has been taken on the passenger trains being run as express trains. This matter is only being discussed now.