By our correspondent, Ahmedabad, 18 April 2013

WR will introduce new 22829/22830 Bhuj-Shalimar (Howrah) via Bilaspur- Katni from 20th April, 2013 Ex Shalimar (Howrah) and from 23th April, 2013 Ex Bhuj.

Train No. 22830 Shalimar (Howrah)-Bhuj Weekly Express will depart from Shalimar (Howrah) at 20.25 hrs every Saturday from 20th April, 2013 to reach Bhuj at 16.40 hrs on Monday.

In its return direction, Train No. 22829 Bhuj – Shalimar (Howrah) Weekly Express will depart from Bhuj at 13.40 hrs every Tuesday from 23rd April, 2013 to reach Shalimar (Howrah) at 10.05 hrs every Thursday.

The train will halt at Santragachi, Kharagpur, Tatanagar, Chakradharpur, Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Raigarh, Champa, Bilaspur, Anuppur, Shahdol, Katni Murwara, Damoh, Saugor, Bina, Vidisha, Bairagarh, Shujalpur, Ujjain, Nagda, Ratlam, Vadodara, Anand, Ahmedabad, Dhrangadhra, Samakhiali, Bhachau, Gandhidham & Adipur stations in both the directions.

It will consist of AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier; II class sleeper and II class general coaches.

The booking of Train No. 22829 will open from Sunday, 21st April, 2013.

By our correspondent, Mumbai, 18 April 2013

Western Railway will introduce new 22903/22904 Bandra (T)-Bhuj Tri-weekly Superfast AC Express from 19th April, 2013 Ex Bandra (T) and from 20th April, 2013 Ex Bhuj.

The inaugural service will be run as Train No.02903 Ex Bandra (T) at 16.30 hrs o­n 19th April, 2013. It will reach Bhuj at 07.00 hrs the next day. The inaugural service from Bhuj will be run as train no 02904 o­n 20th April,2013 at 15.05 hrs , arriving Bandra Terminus at 04.55 hrs the next day.

In its regular run, Train No. 22903 Bandra (T)-Bhuj Tri-weekly Superfast AC Express will depart from Bandra (T) at 23.55 hrs o­n every Wednesday, Friday & Sunday from 21st April, 2013 to reach Bhuj at 13.15 hrs o­n Thursday, Saturday & Monday.

In its return direction, Train No. 22904 Bhuj-Bandra (T) Tri-weekly Superfast AC Express will depart from Bhuj at 15.05 hrs o­n every Thursday, Saturday & Monday from 22nd April, 2013 to reach Bandra (T) at 04.55 hrs o­n every Friday, Sunday & Tuesday.

The train will halt at Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Ahmedabad and Gandhidham stations in both the directions.

It will consist of Ist AC, 2 tier AC & 3 tier AC.

The booking of inaugural Trains No. 02903/02904 will open from 19th April,2013 while booking of regular Train Nos. 22903/22904 will open from 20th April,2013.

Ahmedabad, 17 April 2013

Due to extra rush of people at Ahmedabad railway station in vacation season, the Western Railway administration has taken a decision of not to issue platform tickets during 18 April to 30 June this year.

According to Divisional Railway Manager, Ahmedabad Railway Station witnesses daily 1.20 lakh passengers every day, but in summer vacation period the figure is 1.60 lakh.

Very old, weak, ill, handicapped passengers will be allowed to keep a person with them to help, and platform ticket will be issued in such case.

By our correspondent, Ahmedabad, 6 April 2013

WR will introduce new 19252/19251 Dwarka- Somnath Express from 12th April, 2013 Ex Somnath and from 13th April, 2013 Ex Dwarka. The inaugural service will be run as Train No.09252 Ex Dwarka at 11.00 hrs o­n 12th April, 2013. It will reach Somnath at 20.40 hrs the same day.

In its regular run, Train No. 19251 Somnath – Dwarka Express will depart from Somnath at 22.40 hrs every day from 12th April, 2013 to reach Dwarka at 07.00 hrs the next day.In its return direction, Train No. 19252 Dwarka – Somnath Express will depart from Dwarka at 20.40 hrs every day from 13th April, 2013 to reach Somnath at 05.15 hrs the next day.

The train will halt at Veraval, Keshod, Junagadh Jn, Jetalsar, Gondal, Rajkot, Hapa, Jamnagar, Khambhaliya and Bhatiya stations in both the directions.It will consist of AC 3 tier; II class sleeper and II class general coaches.

The booking of inaugural Train No. 09252 and regular Train Nos. 19252/ 19251 will open from Tuesday, 9th April, 2013.

By our correspondent, Vaodara, 6 April 2013

Western Railway will introduce new 79456/79455 Chota Udepur – Vadodara DEMU train from 8th April, 2013 Ex Chota Udepur and from 9th April, 2013 Ex Vadodara.

The inaugural service will be run as Train No.79456 Ex Chota Udepur at 15.30 hrs on 8th April, 2013. It will reach Vadodara at 18.45 hrs the same day.

In its regular run, Train No. 79456 Chota Udepur – Vadodara DEMU will depart from Chota Udepur at 15.30 hrs every day from 8th April, 2013 to reach Vadodara at 18.45 hrs the same day.

In its return direction, Train No. 79455 Vadodara – Chota Udepur DEMU will depart from Vadodara at 11.45 hrs every day from 9th April, 2013 to reach Chota Udepur at 14.55 hrs the same day.

The train will halt at Pratapnagar, Kelanpur, Khundela, Bhilupur, Thuwavi, Dabhoi Jn, Vadhvana, Amalpur, Sankheda Bahadurpur, Chuchapura, Jojwa, Bodeli, Jabugam, Suskal, Pavi, Tejgadh and Puniyavat stations in both the directions.

It will consist of II class general coaches.

By our correspondent, New Delhi, 1 April 2013

While Gujarat Congress is involved in a fight with the ruling BJP government over the issue of water, here is an important piece of information.

As many as 79 proposals in the state of Gujarat are pending with the Railways for their clearance for crossings of railway tracks for various water supply projects.

In a reply to a question in Lok Sabha, Minister of the state in the ministry of Railways Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal has recently replied: Railways receive requests from various agencies/individuals for crossings of railway tracks for various purposes including relating to water supply. Such proposals are examined and permission is granted if the proposal is complete, feasible, does not affect safety of trains, and after the party has deposited the required fees and met with all the procedural requirements. At present 79 proposals in the state of Gujarat are under consideration with zonal railways. This is an on going process and Railway strives to accord approval on fast track.

It should be mentioned here that canal, pipeline and other water supply works are going on in full speed in Gujarat’s drought affected areas at present, but wherever there’s a railway line, the projects halt, because to cross a railway line, permission from Indian Railways is needed, and this takes too long time.

While central government itself has declared Gujarat’s 17 districts drought affected, all valid proposals of such nature should be cleared maximum in a week or so on fast track basis. Gujarat Congress leaders are free to issue statements on water availability in drought affected areas, and it is their right as opposition party, but at the same time they must do a duty for state to pressurize their government in centre for fast clearance of pending proposals related to water pipelines and canals.

Ahmedabad, 25 March 2013

From 1st April 2013 tatkal ticket booking fares will go up.

Second class sitting tatkal charge would be 10% of original fare. In all other classes, tatkal fare will be 30% of original ticket fare.

Second class sitting: Minimum tatkal charge Rs 10 and maximum tatkal charge Rs 15

Sleeper class: Minimum tatkal charge Rs 90 and maximum Rs 175

AC sitting(CC): Minimum tatkal charge Rs 100 and maximum Rs 200

Third AC(3A): Minimum tatkal charge Rs 250 and maximum Rs 350

Second AC and Executive class: Minimum tatkal charge Rs 300 and maximum Rs 400

Ahmedabad, 22 March 2013

Charges of Reservation Fee and Supplemtary charges for superfast trains have been revised w.e.f 1st April, 2013. The Enhanced reservation fee which is levied on tickets booked for journey originating from other than the ticket booking station, like return tickets, onward journey tickets, etc. is also withdrawn w.e.f. 1st April, 2013. The revised charges are as under.

Till the new tickets are printed and made available, the existing tickets with alterations in fares on them would be issued.

Vadodara, 20 March 2013

Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation has signed one yeart contract with Indian Railways for Rs 36 lakh Rs, under which as many as 20 railway engines will carry Amul advertisement. The first such engine was flagged off today at Vadodara.

Ahmedabad, 13 March 2013

To facilitate passengers during summer vacation, Western Railway will run summer special trains to Indore, Okha & Bhavnagar from Bandra (T).

Bandra ( T ) – Indore Weekly Special

Train No. 09301 Bandra (T)- Indore Weekly Special train will leave Bandra Terminus at 12.25 hrs o­n every Mondayfrom 08th April ,2013 to 01st July,2013 and will reach Indore at 03.30 hrs o­n next day.

Similarly, Train No. 09302 Indore – Bandra (T) Weekly Special train will leave Indore at 17.25 hrs o­n every Sunday from 07thApril, 2013 to 30th June, 2013 and will reach Bandra (T) at 10.40 hrs o­n next day.

This train will halt at Borivali, Surat, Vadodara, Dahod, Ratlam, Nagda, Ujjain and Dewas in both direction.

It will have AC 2 tier, AC 3 tier, Sleeper class and 2nd class general coaches.

Bandra Terminus – Okha Weekly Special

Train no 09561 Bandra ( T ) – Okhaweeklyspecialtrain will depart from Bandra( T) at 00.15hrshrs o­n every Thursday from 4th April, 2013 to 27th June, 2013 and will reach Okhaat 21.20hrs o­n sameday .

Similarly, Train no 09562 Okha – Bandra (T) Weekly Special train will depart from Okhaat 11.25 hrs o­n every Tuesday from 2nd April, 2013 to 25th June, 2013 and will reach Bandra (T)at 07.35hrs o­n the next day .

The train halts at Borivali, Vapi, Valsad , Navsari , Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Nadiad, Ahmedabad, Viramgam, Surendra Nagar, Wankaner, Rajkot, Hapa, Jamnagar, Khambalia and Dwarkastations in both the directions.

The train will have AC II Tier, Sleeper Class and II class General Coaches.

Bandra ( T ) – Bhavnagar Weekly Special

Train no 09231Bandra ( T ) – Bhavnagarweeklyspecialtrainwill depart from Bandra (T)at 12.55 hrson every Monday from 8th April, 2013 to 1st July, 2013 and will reach Bhavnagar at 04.10 hrs o­n the nextday .

Similarly, Train no 09232 Bhavnagar – Bandra (T) Weekly special train will depart from Bhavnagar at 17.05 hrs o­n every Sunday from 7th April, 2013 to 30th June, 2013 and will reach Bandra (T)at 07.35hrs o­n the next day .

The train halts at Borivali, Vapi, Valsad, Navsari , Surat, Bharuch, Vadodara, Anand, Nadiad, Maninagar, Ahmedabad, Sabarmati , Viramgam, Joravarnagar, Botad, Dhola, and Songarhstations o­n both the directions.

The train will have AC II Tier, Sleeper Class and II class General Coaches.

The booking of train Nos. 09302/09301, 09562/09561 and 09232/09231 will open from Monday, 18th March, 2013.