ECoR announces special trains and additional coaches

On the occasion of festive season, the East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced special trains and additional coaches in regular trains. The ECoR in its statement said that,  "Indian Railways is witnessing a high number of ticket bookings during the festive season. Heavy rush in regular trains results in the long waitlist of tickets in regular trains. Passenger Profile Management Units of Indian Railways are monitoring the increased demand of passengers to make their journey hassle-free. In view of the above, Indian Railways is running many special trains on busy routes connecting popular destinations apart from augmenting additional coaches in regular trains."

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Additional berths in trains 

The statement also added that over five lakh additional berths have been created by operating special trains and adding additional coaches. 

"ECoR has created about 5 lakhs additional berths by running of Special Trains and by augmenting additional coaches in regular trains, ECoR is running more than 20 special trains from and through East Coast Jurisdiction, special trains running towards Howrah, Secunderabad, Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, Allahabad, Patna, and Bhagalpur."

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"If passengers are getting waitlist status in regular trains during this season, they may book tickets in special trains running from and through East Coast Railway jurisdiction. The Special Train Number starts with "0" (zero) or with "8" and passengers can easily find it from National Train Enquiry System (NTES) for online Ticket or may ask at the PRS inquiry Counter for Counter Tickets," the statement added.

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WiFi services on trains

The Indian Railways is eyeing to provide WiFi services onboard trains for its next milestone. Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that the railways will provide the new services in the next four to four-and-a-half years. According to Piyush Goyal, as of now, over 5150 railway stations across India are enabled with WiFi services. However, the railways aims to cover all 6500 stations by 2020-end and provide WiFi services.

"We are trying to provide WiFi services at all 6,500 stations by end of next year," Goyal told the press.

When Goyal was asked about WiFi services inside trains he said that the installing services onboard trains would be complicated considering the complicated technology subjects and the barriers that follow. He also stated that doing so will require a large amount of investment. Goyal also added that foreign expertise would need to be considered on the matter.  

"It is a more complicated technology subject. Giving WiFi in running trains requires investment. Towers need to be put and there has to be equipment inside trains. In this, we might have to bring in foreign technology and investors," added Goyal

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Goyal, however, talking about the benefits of a WiFi-enabled service inside trains said that it will also be a valuable addition in terms of security. "But it will help a lot in terms of security as CCTVs would be there in every train compartment and its live feed will go to police station. The signaling system will work in a better manner through WiFi facility. In next four or four-and-a-half years we will start this facility." said Goyal

(With ANI Inputs)