Clear skies, no fog: Passengers want cancelled Shatabdi back on tracks

Considering clear weather conditions, and passengers’ demand, the Ambala division of Northern Railways on Thursday sent a proposal to the headquarters in Delhi not to cancel running of Shatabdi Express between Kalka and New Delhi during Tuesdays and Saturdays from January 9.

As per the schedule released on December 1, 2015, a total of 22 trains were cancelled anticipating foggy conditions in January. Therefore, the Kalka-New Delhi Shatabdi Express (12006), which has a halt at the Chandigarh railway station, was cancelled from January 9 to February 28, 2016.

However, Ambala divisional railways manager (DRM) Dinesh Kumar said, “Considering clear weather, we have requested the higher authorities not to cancel the train. The proposal has been sent not to cancel a few other trains as well.”

He added, “We are waiting for the reply from the headquarters; the rescheduling of the time table will only depend on the reply.” Soon after the schedule was released in December last year, Kumar had said that if the weather conditions would remain clear, they might consider withdrawing the cancellation orders of several trains.

Meanwhile, the cancellation of trains (twice a week) will begin from January 9 onwards. A total of 10 trains from Chandigarh that will be cancelled twice a week include Lucknow-Chandigarh (12231)- Monday and Thursday; Chandigarh-Amritsar -(12241)only Tuesday’s; Chandigarh-Amritsar (12411) and Amritsar-Chandigarh (12412)- only Fridays; Lucknow-Chandigarh (15011) -Wednesday and Friday; Chandigarh-Allahbad (14218) -Tuesday and Friday ; Allahbad-Chandigarh (14217) - Wednesday and Friday; Chandigarh-Lucknow (12232) - Thursday and Saturday; Amritsar-Chandigarh (12242) - Wednesday; and Chandigarh-Lucknow(15012) Wednesday and Saturday.

Other trains to be cancelled twice a week include five Shatabdi Express trains - 12005(Monday/Wednesday), 12011 (Tuesday/Sunday), 12012 (Tuesday/Sunday), 12046 (Thursday) and 12045(Thursday).

Similarly, the trains between Barmer and Kalka (14888) will remain cancelled on Wednesday and Sunday; Ambala-Kalka (22929) will remain cancelled on Monday and Thursday; Kalka-Ambala (22926) will remain cancelled on Tuesday and Sunday while Kalka-Barmer (148887) will remain cancelled on Wednesday and Saturday.