Question : TRAINS IN GUJARAT

(a) whether the Railways have received any representations from various organizations from various parts of Gujarat especially from Rajkot and Bhavnagar for extension/ increase in frequency of trains and if so, the details and action taken thereon;

(b) whether the Railways are aware that Saurashtra region of Gujarat is having very low or inadequate train facilities and if so, the details thereof along with reasons therefor;

(c) whether the Railways propose to extend the facility of Rail Yatri Sevaks with modern trollys to various railway stations including Ahmedabad in Gujarat to facilitate aged, differently abled, senior citizens and women and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)whether the Railways propose to start trains to connect Gandhinagar with the important towns of the State under the `Rajya Rani` scheme announced in Budget 2011-12 and if so, the steps taken in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS (SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a)& (b) Demands for introduction of new trains, extension and increase in frequency of existing train services are received at various levels of Railway administration, a compendium of which is not maintained.

Although, Indian Railways do not run trains on state-wise/region-wise basis, representations relating to introduction of new train services serving the stations located in the state of Gujarat, in general, and Rajkot/Bhavnagar in particular, have been examined and during the year 2013-14, introduction of 02 pairs of Express train services, 03 pairs of passenger train services and extension of 02 pairs of existing train services, serving the State of Gujarat have been given effect to. Further, in the Railway Budget 2014-15, the following train services have been announced/ introduced:

 1.19203/04 Bhavnagar-Bandra(T) Express (weekly) w.e.f. 19.10.14 2.22935/36 Palitana-Bandra(T) Express (weekly) w.e.f. 05.12.14 3.22937/38 Rajkot-Rewa Express (weekly) 4.19579/80 Bhavnagar-Delhi Sarai Rohilla Express (weekly) 5. 19421/22 Ahmedabad-Patna Express (weekly) w.e.f. 09.11.14 6.19401/02 Ahmedabad-Lucknow Express (weekly) w.e.f. 10.11.14 7.19417/18 Ahmedabad-Allahabad Express (weekly) w.e.f. 13.11.14 8.19453/54 Ghandhidham-Puri Express (weekly) w.e.f. 08.10.14 9.22939/40 Hapa-Bilaspur Express(weekly) w.e.f. 11.11.14 10.22919/20 Ahmedabad-Delhi Sarai Rohilla Express (Tri-weekly) 11.15559/60 Ahmedabad-Darbhanga Jansadharan Express (weekly) 12.19419/20 Ahmedabad-Chennai Express (bi-weekly) 13.19415/16 Ahmedabad-Katra Express (weekly) 14.69133/34/35/36 Anand-Dakor MEMU passenger (daily 02 services) w.e.f. 25.09.14 15.79449/50 Morbi-Maliya Miyana DEMU passenger (daily) w.e.f. 25.09.14.