(a) whether the Railways had stopped all rail services from the end of March 2020 due to COVID-19 Pandemic;
(b) if so, the details thereof;
(c) the total loss suffered by the Railways due to cancellation of trains;
(d) whether the Railways has started some special trains for the stranded passengers in the month of May 2020; and
(e) if so, the time by which full-fledged train services are likely to be resumed?
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS AND COMMERCE & INDUSTRY
(SHRI PIYUSH GOYAL)
(a) and (b) With a view to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, Indian Railways discontinued the regular passenger train services w.e.f 23.03.2020.
(c) Owing to the discontinuance of passenger services after the introduction of the lockdown to contain COVID-19 pandemic, upto the end of August, the number of originating passengers has been 1.27% of the corresponding period last year and freight loading has been 86.6% of the corresponding period.
Consequently, the traffic revenue of Railways’ to the end of August 2020, at ?_41,844.31 Crore has declined by 42.3% over the corresponding period last year. However, freight loading has picked up and in August, 2020, it has been 4% more than last year and 13% more in September, 2020 compared to corresponding month in last year.
(d) Yes, Sir. Indian Railways resumed the operation of passenger train services w.e.f. 01.05.2020, with the introduction of Shramik special trains, in terms of the guidelines issued by Government. Keeping in view the urgent requirement of movement of stranded persons, Shramik specials were organized in a mission mode. These Shramik specials were organized as “trains on demand” as and when State Governments requisitioned these trains in accordance with the protocol and guidelines given by the Government. In all, 4621 Shramik Special have been operated between 1st May, 2020 to 31st August, 2020 carrying 63.19 Lakh passengers to their home State.
(e) Train services are being gradually started, in phases, as special trains, as detailed below:-
i. 15 pairs of Rajdhani specials with effect from 12.05.2020.
ii. 100 pairs of Special trains with effect from 01.06.2020.
iii. 705 Suburban services (Central Railway-355 & Western Railway-350) were started from 15.06.2020.
iv. 43 pairs of special trains with effect from 12.09.2020.
v. 20 pairs of trains with effect from 21.09.2020
Additional Special trains, in coordination with the State Governments, were also run as per demand for Ganapati festival, and IIT-JEE/NEET and NDA & Naval Academy examinations conducted by Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
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