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Railways opearting 195 special trains from Delhi

Ahead of Chhath Puja, Railway Board Chairman Satish Kumar conducted an inspection of facilities on Sunday, announcing that the Railways will operate 195 special trains over a 13-day period from the Delhi area this year to accommodate passengers. “We are operating extra trains as part of the arrangements. We are operating 195 special trains in 13 days from the Delhi area this year... Today, 70 trains are running from Delhi, of which 16 are special trains, and 4 trains are unannounced. Through these measures, we are trying to provide facilities to the passengers. I asked passengers about the arrangements, they are satisfied with the arrangements made this year,” Kumar told ANI. The Railway Board Chairman also engaged with passengers traveling during the Chhath Puja rush. On Friday, Indian Railways announced the operation of special trains nationwide to ensure safe travel for those heading home for the festival. Dilip Kumar, Executive Director of Information and Publicity for the Railway Board, reported that over 160 trains were in operation on Thursday, with plans to run more than 170 trains on Sunday.

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Western Railway to run three additional special trains

To accommodate the increased passenger demand during the festive season, Western Railway has announced the operation of three additional Festival Special Trains on special fares. These trains will connect major destinations across the regions, providing added convenience to passengers traveling from cities such as Bandra, Gorakhpur, Valsad, Udhna, Jaynagar, Ujjain, Sabarmati, and Patna. 1. Bandra Terminus – Gorakhpur – Valsad Special (Train No. 09093/09094) – 2 Trips Train No. 09093: Departs Bandra Terminus on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 04:40 hrs, arriving in Gorakhpur at 18:00 hrs the next day. Train No. 09094: Departs Gorakhpur on Monday, November 4, 2024, at 22:00 hrs, reaching Valsad at 06:00 hrs on Wednesday. The train will stop at several key stations, including Udhna, Surat, Vadodara, Ratlam, Ujjain, and Kanpur, with additional stops at Borivali, Palghar, Dahanu Road, Vapi, and Valsad for Train No. 09093. This service will consist of General Second Class coaches. 2. Udhna – Jaynagar – Ujjain Special (Train No. 09039/09040) – 2 Trips Train No. 09039: Departs Udhna on Sunday, November 3, 2024, at 07:25 hrs, arriving at Jaynagar at 02:00 hrs on Tuesday. Train No. 09040: Departs Jaynagar on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at 05:30 hrs, reaching Ujjain at 16:00 hrs the following day. This train includes stops at major stations, including Prayagraj Chheoki, Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhayaya, Patliputra, Muzaffarpur, and Darbhanga. It also includes additional halts at Surat, Vadodara, Godhra, Ratlam, and Ujjain, with General Second Class coaches.

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The best Christmas markets taking place around the world in 2024

There’s nothing quite like a festive market to bring out the Christmas spirit in people. While these events can be traced back to Vienna – the city’s first recorded December market was in 1298 – the tradition has spread across the world over the centuries. From Germany and Switzerland to Singapore and New York, it’s difficult to find a coveted destination that doesn’t hold an impressive annual market. In fact, some have grown so popular that they’ve become tourist attractions in their own right. Here’s CNN Travel’s rundown of some of the top Christmas markets taking place around the world this year: With reindeer rides, a giant Ferris wheel and a classic Nativity scene, Vienna’s magical spectacle encapsulates the festive spirit fantastically. Although there are around 20 Christmas markets in the Austrian capital from which to choose, Wiener Christkindlmarkt (or Rathausplatz) is one of its oldest and most traditional events. The event, also known as Viennese Dream Christmas Market, features a 110-square-meter children’s ice rink and is held in front of City Hall. The famous Tree of Hearts, a giant maple tree decked out with hundreds of glittering hearts, is a favorite with visitors and a great photo opportunity.

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Cruise tours to Nagarjunasagar from November

Hyderabad: The Telangana Tourism Development Corporation announced that road-cum-cruise tours from Hyderabad to Nagarjunasagar and Srisailam, as well as Hyderabad to Somasila and Srisailam, will start on November 2. These two cruise tours will operate every Saturday from Hyderabad to Nagarjunasagar, then to Srisailam, and back to Hyderabad. The tour packages are priced at Rs 2,000 per adult and Rs 1,600 per child for a single journey. For round-trip journeys, the prices are set at Rs 3,000 per adult and Rs 2,400 per child. Each package includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

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Western Railway issues luggage limit rules after Bandra stampede

Recently, Mumbai's Bandra Terminus experienced a stampede situation that left 10 people injured. In order to avoid future accidents, Western Railway has issued new rules to reduce overcrowding and add to passenger safety. It includes putting luggage limits, restricting platform tickets, and managing parcel stacking on platforms. These rules will be strictly followed during the festive season. Bandra stampede incident: The rule was introduced following a recent stampede accident at Bandra Terminus in Mumbai. Some 10 people were injured during the accident. Western Railway (WR) has introduced new regulations to help manage crowding at train stations. Luggage limits: Passengers travelling from WR must adhere to the allowed luggage limits for their respective travel classes. WR announced that excess luggage would incur penalties, stressing that compliance will help reduce congestion in station areas. Restrictions/Extra charges on some huge items: As per the WR, items like scooters, bicycles, or oversized consignments over dimensions of 100 cm x 100 cm x 70 cm do not fall under the free luggage category. These items will require additional charges, ensuring fair use of station resources and reducing obstructions. Avoid overcrowding: Western Railway has urged passengers to avoid crowding stations and only enter the premises as needed, according to their train schedules.

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Indian Railways revises ticket booking rules

In a major policy shift, Indian Railways has reduced its advance reservation period (ARP) for train tickets from the previous 120 days to 60 days. The change, which took effect on November 1, aims to make the booking process more efficient by reducing the high rates of cancellations and no-shows often seen with extended advance bookings. This decision arrives just as the winter travel season and end-of-year festivities are set to increase demand for train travel across India. The main reason behind this new policy is to curb the growing trend of passengers booking tickets far in advance without certain travel plans. As per reports, approximately 21% of reservations made between 61 and 120 days before the journey date usually gets. Add to that, about 5% of travellers neither cancel their tickets nor actually travel. This trend is also referred to as “no-shows.” With this revised ARP, Indian Railways hopes to make more tickets available for genuine travellers with confirmed plans. From now on, passengers looking to book train tickets will be limited to a 60-day advance booking window. Earlier, one could book four months or 120 days in advance. For those who have already purchased tickets more than 60 days in advance, their tickets will not be affected by this rule change. Their tickets will remain valid for their scheduled journeys. Also, the 365-day ARP limit for foreign tourists will also stay in place, allowing them to plan for long-term travel within India.

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