It is unfortunate reality for all trains, infact even legendary and premium trains have not been spared.
When 12419/20 LKO ⇌ NDLS Gomti Exp (Except Su then) was inaugurated, it was non stop between NDLS ⇌ LKO with CNB being the only halt in its hey days. And, see its condition today.
Infact, you yourself wrote a good article on 12015/16 Ajmer Shat...
more... highlighting its sorrow state. refer (
/blog/post/5773084 )
Back to topic,
Actually, NTPC Dibiyapur and GAIL Pata (located near Phaphund) have been demanding halt for 12004/03 since long due to no reliable train to Delhi. There are only 4 trains to Delhi.
Since, General Elections 2024 are approaching which is bringing rain of experimental halts, 12004/03 became a scapegoat for the same. Ex Central Minister and Hon'ble MP Ram Shankar Katheria promised halt @ PHD to his voters. Although he is demanding more halts for other trains too.
By above info, I'm not defending the halt of 12004/03 @ PHD. I still dont appreciate the halt @ PHD.
As I have raised earlier (Ref :
/blog/post/5769589 ) and you have mentioned it too, LKO deserves NDLS - CNB - LKO - AYC Vande Bharat for E2E connectivity.
please wait...Translate to EnglishDude, it sucks for all trains, even the fancy ones are getting hit. Remember when the Gomti Express used to be a non-stop ride between LKO and NDLS? Now it stops at every small station. It's a sad state, man.
You even wrote a dope article about the Ajmer Shatabdi, talking about how it's gone downhill. Check it out here (link).
But let's get back to the point. The NTPC Dibiyapur and GAIL Pata have been begging for a halt for the 12004/03 train because there aren't many reliable trains to Delhi. Can you believe there are only four trains going there?
Now, with the 2024 elections around the corner, politicians are adding experimental halts like crazy. The 12004/03 train got caught in the crossfire. MP Ram Shankar Katheria promised a stop at PHD for his voters. He's actually asking for even more stops for other trains too.
Look, I'm not saying the halt at PHD for the 12004/03 is cool. I still don't think it's a good idea.
As we've mentioned before, LKO needs that sweet NDLS - CNB - LKO - AYC Vande Bharat for seamless connectivity.
