WAM 4 - Father of the Nation for RailFans - Vikas Kumar

A major train accident occurred near Pardhade station in Jalgaon, Maharashtra. A fire rumour on the Pushpak Express caused passengers to panic, pull the emergency chain, and jump out onto the tracks. They were then struck by the oncoming Karnataka Express on the other track. At least 11 passengers...
more...

died, and several others were injured. Railway officials and Maharashtra minister Girish Mahajan have arrived at the scene. The death toll may rise.

A major accident occurred near Paranda station in Jalgaon, Maharashtra, when passengers on the Pushpak Express jumped off a moving train due to a false alarm of a fire. Several deaths resulted as some passengers were hit by another train on the tracks. Railway officials confirmed the presence of a...
more...

second train on the track. This incident is separate from other unrelated news items also mentioned, including a woman reuniting with her family after 30 years and the Bombay High Court fining the ED ₹100,000 for alleged citizen exploitation.

To accommodate the influx of pilgrims for the Prayagraj Kumbh Mela, over 13,000 trains, including 3000 special trains, will operate. Five special Kumbh Mela trains from South Railway will run via Gondia, Balaghat, and Nainpur on the South East Central Railway. Three additional Kumbh Mela special trains (08251/08252 Raigarh-Varanasi-Raigarh,...
more...

08791/08792 Durg-Varanasi-Durg, and 08253/08254 Bilaspur-Varanasi-Bilaspur) will run on the South East Central Railway, increasing confirmed berths/seats. These trains will travel via Bilaspur, Katni, and Prayagraj. Two more special trains (08530/08529 Visakhapatnam-Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyaya-Visakhapatnam and 08562/08561 Visakhapatnam-Gorakhpur-Visakhapatnam) will also operate via South East Central Railway, stopping at Raipur, Bilaspur, Uslapur, Raigarh, Champa, Pendra Road, Anuppur, Shahdol, and Umaria stations. Five more Kumbh Mela special trains from South Railway will operate via Gondia, Balaghat, and Nainpur. Specific details on these five trains (06005/06006 Kanyakumari-Gaya, 06021/06022 Kochuveli-Gaya, 06001/06002 Chennai Central-Gomti Nagar, 06003/06004 Kanyakumari-Banaras, 06007/06008 Kochuveli-Banaras) including dates, routes, and coach composition, are provided in the original text (but truncated in this summary).

South East Central Railway (SECR) achieved 100% electrification on December 14, 2024, adding 182.2 track kilometers of electrification in FY 2024-25. This involved agencies like RITES, construction firms, and the Gatishakti unit. A new traction substation was commissioned in Belpahar in June 2024, boosting capacity by 143 MVA. Five...
more...

8-wheeler tower cars were commissioned, with eight more expected soon. 75 track kilometers of old aluminum catenary were replaced on main lines, eliminating triple A conductors in Bilaspur and Raipur divisions. SECR also commissioned 63 new electric locomotives in FY 2024-25, bringing the total to 814, with plans to reach 1000. They also commissioned India's first twin locomotives, adding 13 sets with 12000 HP each to their fleet. These advancements reflect SECR's commitment to infrastructure improvement, operational efficiency, and environmental protection.

Starting November 1st, a local train service will operate between Raipur and Naya Raipur, Chhattisgarh. This service will utilize two MEMU trains, running between Naya Raipur and Abhanpur. The trains will depart from Raipur station at 9:00 AM and 4:20 PM, with a fare of ₹10, offering a cost-effective alternative to...
more...

buses, which currently cost ₹45. The trains will make stops at six stations: Raipur, Mandirhasoud, Udyog Nagar Naya Raipur, CBD Station Naya Raipur, Kendri Station, and Abhanpur, completing the journey in approximately 37 minutes. This new service is expected to benefit commuters traveling between Raipur and Naya Raipur, especially those working in the CBD area, as the trains will be conveniently timed to accommodate office hours. The Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) will also adjust the timings of its buses to align with the train schedule, ensuring accessibility for commuters from various locations within Naya Raipur. The train service is a significant development for Naya Raipur residents, who have been anticipating its arrival for the past nine years.