In the past, I have on different occasions indicated how the our railway tracks are over-utilised, and railway technical teams do hair splitting exercises to squeeze in Shatabdis or durontos (durantham) in the already water-tight shedules.
The results are there for us to see-- The Kalka Mail tragedy.
I feel a time has come when the power of the rly. minister should be withdrawn from announcing populist trains at the spur of the moment. The Railway Technical committee must have the veto power in the decision to...
more... introduce a train if after exploring all the avenues they feel there is no scope wihout compromising on passenger safety. Unfortunately, our professionals are not allowed to work without fear or favour.
What has happened to all the safety funds that have been collected from passengers over the last several years? How much time do the railway staff really get on track maintenance given the heavy over-utilisation of capacities?
The need of the hour is safe ,reliable and reasonably quick trains within the ambit of safe transportation, basic amenities like drinking water at stations , shelters, clean toilets etc. One should really see the condition of some medium category mofussil stations. There are still some branch lines where the passengers have to climb on to the bogies since the train has not touched the small platform.
Our bullet trains and durontos can wait. Let railways reintroduce Janatha EXpresses