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Western Railways adds extra coaches on Mumbai-Delhi routes as IndiGo cancellations push flyers to trains

A rush of former air travellers prompted Western Railway to attach additional AC II Tier coaches on the Rajdhani express and plan special trains, The Indian Express has learnt

More trains and augmentations are being planned to handle the surge in demand.With IndiGo cancellations pushing flyers to the railways, Western Railway has added extra AC II Tier coaches to Mumbai–Delhi and Ahmedabad–Delhi Rajdhani trains. (ANI Photo)

To manage the sudden surge of train passengers after widespread cancellations of IndiGo flights across the country, the Western Railway has decided to attach additional coaches to key Mumbai-Delhi trains starting Saturday, December 6.

In an internal communication issued Friday, Western Railway cited directives from the Railway Board asking all zones to add extra coaches “to clear the rush of wait-listed passengers due to mass cancellation of IndiGo flights, with due charting in PRS in the given trains”.

To begin with, an extra AC II Tier coach will be attached to the Mumbai-Delhi-Mumbai Rajdhani Express (12951/12952) on trains departing from both ends.

The Rajdhani Express leaving Mumbai Central will have the additional coach from December 6 to 10, while the Delhi-Mumbai service will carry the extra AC II Tier coach from December 7 to 11. The Swarna Jayanti Rajdhani Express between Sabarmati (Ahmedabad) and New Delhi will also operate with an additional AC II Tier coach from December 6 to 10 in the Ahmedabad–Delhi direction, and from December 7 to 11 in the opposite direction.

A senior official of Western Railway told The Indian Express, “Considering the air travellers who have turned to railways due to the recent issues, the railways have decided to add extra coaches to begin with two trains connecting Mumbai and Ahmedabad to New Delhi. Some extra trains are also being planned, apart from augmenting existing trains with coaches for which separate notifications are expected shortly.”

The Western Railway’s Mumbai–Ahmedabad corridor — its busiest business route — has seen a sharp spike in demand ever since IndiGo cancellations to Mumbai disrupted travel from major Gujarat cities, including Vadodara and Ahmedabad, earlier this week.

Aditi Raja is an Assistant Editor with The Indian Express, stationed in Vadodara, Gujarat, with over 20 years in the field. She has been reporting from the region of Central Gujarat and Narmada district for this newspaper since 2013, which establishes her as a highly Authoritative and Trustworthy source on regional politics, administration, and critical socio-economic and environmental issues. Expertise: Core Authority & Specialization: Her reporting is characterized by a comprehensive grasp of the complex factors shaping Central Gujarat, which comprises a vast tribal population, including: Politics and Administration: In-depth analysis of dynamics within factions of political parties and how it affects the affairs in the region, visits of national leaders making prominent statements, and government policy decisions impacting the population on ground. Crucial Regional Projects: She consistently reports on the socio-economic and political impact of infrastructure projects in the region, especially the Statue of Unity, the Sardar Sarovar Project on the Narmada River, the Mumbai-Ahmedabad High Speed Rail bullet train project as well as the National Highway infrastructure. Social Justice and Human Rights: Her reporting offers deep coverage of sensitive human-interest topics, including gender, crime, and tribal issues. Her reports cover legal proceedings from various district courts as well as the Gujarat High Court (e.g., the Bilkis Bano case remission, POCSO court orders, Public Interest Litigations), the plight of tribal communities, and broader social conflicts (e.g., Kheda flogging case). Local Impact & Disaster Reporting: Excels in documenting the immediate impact of events on communities, such as the political and civic fallout of the Vadodara floods, the subsequent public anger, and the long-delayed river redevelopment projects, Harni Boat Tragedy, Air India crash, bringing out a blend of stories from the investigations as well as human emotions. Special Interest Beat: She tracks incidents concerning Non-Resident Gujaratis (NRIs) including crime and legal battles abroad, issues of illegal immigration and deportations, as well as social events connecting the local Gujarati experience to the global diaspora. ... Read More

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