Question : Introduction of Train Services

(a) whether there is any legal bar in reintroducing any closed railway stoppage of local trains on recently converted broad gauge railway line and introducing train service in between one hour gap from Rampurhat to Howrah under Howrah Division and if so, the details thereof; and

(b) if not, whether the Railways would consider the proposal for reintroducing Nirol Gram Halt station on Ahmadpur-Katwa section and introducing a train service from Rampurhat to Howrah between 4 am to 4:30 am from Rampurhat and if so, the details thereof?

MINISTER OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI SURESH PRABHAKAR PRABHU)

(a) & (b): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

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STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) & (b) OF STARRED QUESTION NO. 556 BY DR. ANUPAM HAZRA TO BE ANSWERED IN LOK SABHA ON 12.04.2017 REGARDING INTRODUCTION OF TRAIN SERVICES.

(a) & (b) As per existing guidelines, Railways may close a halt station if it is unremunerative and also not justified on passenger amenity ground. Railways should also consider the closure of halt stations where average number of passengers is less than 25 per day(outward) on branch lines and less than 50 per day(outward) on main lines. Nirolgram halt between Nerol and Panchandi stations over Ahmadpur-Katwa section of Howrah Division was closed w.e.f 01.07.2006 due to very poor patronization as the average sale of tickets at Nirolgram before its closing was only four(04) per day. At present, gauge conversion (NG to BG) in Ahmedpur-Katwa section is under progress and restoration of Nirolgram halt is not included in the project presently undergoing gauge conversion.

Further, at present, Rampurhat and Howrah are connected by 16 pairs of Mail/Express and 4 pairs of passenger trains out of which 3 pairs of trains originate/terminate at Rampurhat and Howrah. Out of these, one long distance passenger train viz. 53044 Rajgir-Howrah Passenger departs Rampurhat at 04.10 Hrs for Howrah. Introduction of any additional trains between 04.00 Hrs to 04.30 Hrs from Rampurhat to Howrah is not feasible at present, due to operational and resource constraints.
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