Congress request for special train to Delhi came at ‘short notice’: SCR

South Central Railway (SCR) clarified that a request from the Congress for operating a special train from Secunderabad to New Delhi was received at ‘very short notice’, leaving insufficient time to complete the operational formalities and inter-zonal coordination required for running such a service.

In a press release, it stated that requests for special trains on a payment basis should be routed through the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) well in advance so that proposal can be examined and coordinated with various zones, subject to operational feasibility.

Operating a special train on the long-distance includes arranging and positioning a suitable rake, locomotives, train crew, maintenance facilities and other essential operational resources. Plus, coordination and concurrence from all the zonal railways concerned through which the train would pass. In addition, a suitable timetable has to be prepared and approved while ensuring that the movement of scheduled passenger and freight trains is not disrupted.