Timeliness of Trains - Issues Faced Recently
Below are some of the issues, root causes and solutions as outlined by you last year for improving the timeliness of trains.
Kindly review and if you have any additional inputs on issues based on experiences in 2018, please share with us.
We will soon be compiling the whitepaper for submission to the Railway Minister and Chairman.
Timeliness of Trains - Issues and Root Causes Identified:
1. Many tracks are still single
2. There are insufficient platforms at many busy stations
3. Many trains start later from the originating station
4. Our network in unable to run in fog
5. Engine technology is old and breakdown frequently
6. Power outages also hamper the running of electric trains
7. Many political marches block railway tracks leading to train delays
8. Accidents on unmanned railway crossings
9. Premium trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi are given preference over normal trains resulting in delay
10. People pull chains needlessly, delaying the train’s running schedule
11. Poor/low visibility results in train delays
12. Many railway tracks are old and susceptible to wear and tear
13. Maintenance is lazy and sub-quality
14. Railways are not answerable to anyone for the delays
15. Un-necessary stoppages at non-important stations to appease local politicians
16. Lack of timely technological advancements in the sector
17. Many times, guards themselves delay the train for loading / unloading of parcels / goods
Timeliness of Trains- Solutions Identified:
1. Busy routes should be converted to double tracks
2. More platforms should be built on busy stations to give docking space to trains
3. Technologically modern engines should be introduced in the railway system
4. Dedicated power sources should be set up to provide electricity to electric trains
5. More time and money should be invested in research and development activities
6. Needlessly pulling the chains to stop the train should attract a steep fine
7. Modern instruments should be procured, which could help the trains to run during low visibility fog time
8. The maintenance staff should be given a timeline and latest equipment to clean trains
9. Identify sections where trains run late, and look at options such as changing train timings, and finding alternative routes
10. Advanced operations research techniques used in airline industry must be deployed
11. Automatic signalling should be installed in all trunk routes
12. Identify alternative and comparatively less congested routes for movement of freight
13. Remodelling of stations should be done such that major line is through to go rather than to come to loop. This will save time for many superfast/express trains
14. A department should be created to which all the delays are reported, with a reason mentioned
15. Self-propagating trains such as DEMU MEMU EMU should be made as 12/15/18 coaches so it could carry more load, which also reduce frequency and can replace passenger conventional coaches
16. Track maintenance software should be used to monitor scheduled maintenance
17. Signalling system needs to be upgraded to current technology.
18. Unnecessary stops in intermediate stations should be removed
19. Train tracks can be illuminated with addition of Radan or equivalent chemical. Flickering solar lights can be buried between the tracks for visibility in fog
20. A law must be made to completely ban political march on railway property
21. Reasonable time must be given for loading/ unloading. If the consignment exceeds the practical limit it should not be allowed by station master
22. Stoppages at major stations should be shortened
23. Speed of the existing trains should be increased
24. Bye-pass for station like Durgapur where most of locomotive reversal occurs, should be done more
Kindly review and if you have any additional inputs on issues based on experiences in 2018, please share with us.
We will soon be compiling the whitepaper for submission to the Railway Minister and Chairman.
Timeliness of Trains - Issues and Root Causes Identified:
1. Many tracks are still single
2. There are insufficient platforms at many busy stations
3. Many trains start later from the originating station
4. Our network in unable to run in fog
5. Engine technology is old and breakdown frequently
6. Power outages also hamper the running of electric trains
7. Many political marches block railway tracks leading to train delays
8. Accidents on unmanned railway crossings
9. Premium trains like Rajdhani and Shatabdi are given preference over normal trains resulting in delay
10. People pull chains needlessly, delaying the train’s running schedule
11. Poor/low visibility results in train delays
12. Many railway tracks are old and susceptible to wear and tear
13. Maintenance is lazy and sub-quality
14. Railways are not answerable to anyone for the delays
15. Un-necessary stoppages at non-important stations to appease local politicians
16. Lack of timely technological advancements in the sector
17. Many times, guards themselves delay the train for loading / unloading of parcels / goods
Timeliness of Trains- Solutions Identified:
1. Busy routes should be converted to double tracks
2. More platforms should be built on busy stations to give docking space to trains
3. Technologically modern engines should be introduced in the railway system
4. Dedicated power sources should be set up to provide electricity to electric trains
5. More time and money should be invested in research and development activities
6. Needlessly pulling the chains to stop the train should attract a steep fine
7. Modern instruments should be procured, which could help the trains to run during low visibility fog time
8. The maintenance staff should be given a timeline and latest equipment to clean trains
9. Identify sections where trains run late, and look at options such as changing train timings, and finding alternative routes
10. Advanced operations research techniques used in airline industry must be deployed
11. Automatic signalling should be installed in all trunk routes
12. Identify alternative and comparatively less congested routes for movement of freight
13. Remodelling of stations should be done such that major line is through to go rather than to come to loop. This will save time for many superfast/express trains
14. A department should be created to which all the delays are reported, with a reason mentioned
15. Self-propagating trains such as DEMU MEMU EMU should be made as 12/15/18 coaches so it could carry more load, which also reduce frequency and can replace passenger conventional coaches
16. Track maintenance software should be used to monitor scheduled maintenance
17. Signalling system needs to be upgraded to current technology.
18. Unnecessary stops in intermediate stations should be removed
19. Train tracks can be illuminated with addition of Radan or equivalent chemical. Flickering solar lights can be buried between the tracks for visibility in fog
20. A law must be made to completely ban political march on railway property
21. Reasonable time must be given for loading/ unloading. If the consignment exceeds the practical limit it should not be allowed by station master
22. Stoppages at major stations should be shortened
23. Speed of the existing trains should be increased
24. Bye-pass for station like Durgapur where most of locomotive reversal occurs, should be done more
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View all 327 comments Below 327 comments
Suggestions given by members are really good. The main question is accountability and responsibility. For a given station the station manager is the highest authority. He should be fully responsible for movement of traffic in his section. Right from Traffic controller to DRM and Station Managers should be made accountable. Any inefficient and irresponsible staff should be immediately replaced. Every staff member should be held responsible for all inefficient and negligent act. Immediate action should be taken without any questions. 95% of staff is under the impression that there will be no action or even if it will be taken it will be at a delayed time. SO PLEASE MAKE ALL ACCOUNTABLE, ANSWERABLE AND RESPONSIBLE. more
Jun 18
Sir, I have suggestion that if you can start a memu train from Ernakulam to Kayamkulam on every Saturday and Kayam Kulam to Ernakulam in between 6.45 Form kayam kulam and 4.pm on every alternate friday and Sunday be more beneficial for passengers. Not only in between Kayamkualm but also fro Shornur to Trivandnrum and vis versa. Sunil KUMAR ONE PASSENGER more
Jun 16
sir some trains are important & long routes trains ,& these types trains always running late lum shum 1 to 2 hours,& always trains stopped on the outsider of the stations, besides this plate form changed without prior information when train about reached the station,this system is not safe,so please think about this,for example,pt.ddu jn.varanasi jn,&pune &lucknw etc more
Oct 24
Railways have been neglected through decades - to gain cheap popularity to 'people' - passenger/goods tariffs have not been revised up commensurate to requirements, indifference to revenue leakages, bleeding of resources was the norms. Thus. apparent health of the Railways is actually a patient under steroid treatment in a ICU. 1) Railway tracks should be increased - single lines to double, double lines to triple/quadruple etc. depending on the traffic density, such that adequate time slots are available of track maintenance 2) Trains sho;d run at an average speed of 150 km/hr - as against approx. 60km/hr . 3) Rails need be made to handle such a speed, 4) Locos need be upgraded to run at such speeds, 5) Coaches need be modified to run at such speeds. Needless to elucidate that a distance of 1,200 kms which is now being covered at approx. 20 hrs, would be completed at approx. 8 hrs. This would reduce the requirement of caterings,bed rolls, on-board sweepings etc. - thus providing higher turnovers of coaches/engines. But required resources are not going to be showered from the heaven. An established and old adage of economics - A COUNTRY REMAINS POOR, BECAUSE IT IS POOR and A COUNTRY BECOMES RICH BECAUSE IT IS RICH. We have preferred to trad the path of poverty not only financially but also morally. more
Aug 03
I am talking of Bengaluru, Mysuru, Mangaluru and Hubballi. The problem is Platform mismanagement more
Jul 27
