Railways Order For Use Of Devoted Goods Corridors To Run Passenger Trains
NDTV
"The Railway Board has decided that in case of exigencies, running of passenger-carrying trains on the DFCCIL network on corresponding IR lines can be permitted....," the order read.
The eastern and western dedicated freight corridors, which have been designed for the exclusive movement of goods trains at a high speed, will now be used for passenger trains in times of exigencies, according to an official order of the Railway Board.
This will come into effect in case of train accidents or natural calamities where passengers will be ferried to their destinations on the parallel DFC network, sources said. The move will benefit the passengers of the Delhi-Howrah and Delhi-Mumbai routes -- two of the busiest rail routes in the country. These routes also run parallel to the two dedicated freight corridors (DFCs).
"The Railway Board has decided that in case of exigencies, running of passenger-carrying trains on the DFCCIL network on corresponding IR lines can be permitted....," the order read.
Railway Board officials said the eastern and western DFCs are being built only for freight and as a rule, high-speed goods trains (100 kmph) are being operated on the said corridors.