Question : HALT STATIONS FOR SUPERFAST TRAINS

(a) the details of guidelines/norms formulated by the Railways to make halt stations for superfast trains in the country;

(b) the details of the proposals received by the Railways to make halts of various trains in the country during the last three years and action taken thereon;

(c) whether the Railways have received representations from various organisations/local public for stoppage of Saraighat Express at Goalpara Town, District Headquarter in Assam and if so, the action taken thereon;

(d) whether the Railways have any plans to consider the request pending for regular stoppage of 51033/51034 Shirdi-Mumbai and 11001/11002 Shirdi-Pandharpur Express at Rahuri Station on Dound-Manmad line of Central Railway and if so, the time by which it is likely to get approval; and

(e) whether the Railways have received several requests for the stoppage of 11039/11040 Maharashtra Express and 11077/11078 Jammutawi Jhelum Express at Rahuri Station and if so, the action taken thereon ?

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

(a): The policy guidelines relating to provision of stoppages of Mail/Express trains, inter-alia, stipulate that the minimum number of tickets to be sold at the station should be 40 or more for sleeper class per day/per train for a distance of 500 kilometers or its equivalent in terms of cost for mixed class of passengers like Air Conditioned, General and distances (multiple of 100 kilometers) towards/from destination/originating stations of the train. Besides, the policy also provides that no stoppage is to be provided:

(i) In case the train passes the station at odd hours.

(ii) For long distance trains in the suburban section.

(iii) On sections having capacity utilization above 90%.

(b): Requests for provisions of stoppages of various trains are received from various quarters including State Governments and Members of Parliament at different levels of Railway administration viz. Railway Stations, Divisions, Zonal Headquarters, Board Level etc., and subject to traffic justification, operational feasibility, availability of resources, etc. action as found feasible and justified is taken. However, a compendium of such proposals is not maintained by Indian Railways.

(c): Yes, Madam. Various representations for provision of stoppage of 12345/12346 Howrah-Guwahati Saraighat Express at Goalpara Town, have been received. The same have been examined but have not been found feasible, at present.

(d) & (e): Representations for provision of stoppage of 11001/11002 Shirdi-Pandharpur Express, 11039/11040 Kolhapur-Gondia Jn. Maharashtra Express and 11077/11078 Pune-Jammu Tawi Jhelum Express at Rahuri station have been received. While 51033/51034 Mumbai- Sainagar Shirdi Fast Passenger has a scheduled stoppage at Rahuri w.e.f. 03.09.2009, stoppage of 11001/11002 Shirdi-Pandharpur Express, 11039/11040 Kolhapur-Gondia Jn. Maharashtra Express and 11077/11078 Pune-Jammu Tawi Jhelum Express at Rahuri station has not been found feasible, at present.