NEW DELHI: With fog hitting train services and the situation likely to continue for the next few weeks, railways has kept two spare rakes of Vande Bharat trains for timely departure from New Delhi and Varanasi stations, and another is being brought from Western Railway for use in the Northern Zone.Railway ministry officials said that the national transporter has also directed its catering and ticketing wing, IRCTC, to set up a war room for real-time monitoring of trains and catering arrangement. Northern India is more susceptible to fog-related disruptions, they added.The national transporter has also made arrangements for spare rakes for Shatabdi services for right time start of trains. “A 20-car Vande Bharat rake available is being utilised for right-time start of New Delhi–Varanasi services. Another 20-car rake available with Northern Railway as maintenance spare being utilised for right-time start of Vande Bharat services between Varanasi and New Delhi. A 20-car Vande Bharat rake nominated for augmentation of 16-car Vande Bharat service is being moved from Western Central Railway to Northern Railway for right-time start of Vande Bharat services,” an official said.Officials said that railways has directed multiple zones and divisions to conduct real-time stock of trains to ensure smooth, punctual operations amid rising fog in the winter season. “The general managers of Northern Railway, North Eastern Railway, and North Central Railway have been directed to be on alert to address all issues. The divisional railway managers (DRMs) of Delhi, Lucknow, Banaras, Prayagraj, and Moradabad have also been advised to take real-time stock of the trains and resolve any matters of concern,” an official said.
