Trains' night runs remain suspended in Maoist-hit areas

KOLKATA: The Railway Board has decided to extend suspension of night run of trains in the trouble prone areas along Maoist affected states up to June 10. The step has been taken in a desperate bid to minimise growing number of railway accidents following the Jnaneshwari Express tragedy in West Bengal a few days ago.

In particular, the suspension will be in force in the Kharagpur-Rourkela and Kharagpur-Adra sections of the South Eastern Railway. This is the second time the railways have decided to extend the suspension of night trains in the affected areas. Earlier, the suspension in night run was extended till June 7.

As a result, only freight trains will be operated during the night hours, thus making way for these passenger trains to be run during the day. Earlier, the schedule was to be in force during the black week being observed by the Maoists between May 28 to June 2.

Railways will now run freight trains during the day to minimise passenger movement at night and to ensure that transportation of commodities and raw materials is least affected. It remains to be seen to what extent these measures would help restore public faith in railway safety.

The decision was taken after the steps taken by the railways, to reduce maximum speeds of express trains like Rajdhani and the ill-fated Jnaneshwari, to 75 km per hour apparently failed to curb the growing incidents of attack.