GUWAHATI, Oct 11 - Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) has decided to operate another four pairs of special trains to cater to the demand of commuters from this region.
The 02505 Dibrugarh-New Delhi-Dibrugarh bi-weekly AC special train (via the Bogibeel Bridge) will depart from Dibrugarh at 10 pm on every Monday and Friday with effect from October 12, said NFR Chief Public Relations Officer Subhanan Chanda.
The train will pass via North Lakhimpur, Harmuti, Rangapara North, New Misamari, Udalguri, Tangla, Rangiya, New Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, New Alipurduar, New Coochbehar, New Jalpaiguri, Kishanganj and Katihar to reach New Delhi at 1.55 pm on every Wednesday and Sunday.
During the return journey, train No 02506 will leave from New Delhi on every Thursday and Sunday with effect from October 15 at 9.25 am and arrive at Dibrugarh at 3 am on Saturdays and Tuesdays.
Chanda said that the 02503 Dibrugarh-New Delhi-Dibrugarh weekly AC special will leave from Dibrugarh at 7.50 pm every Thursday with effect from October 15.
It will pass through Moranhat, Simaluguri, Mariani, Dimapur, Diphu, Lumding, Hojai, Guwahati, New Bongaigaon, Kokrajhar, New Alipurduar, New Coochbehar, New Jalpaiguri, Kishanganj and Katihar to reach New Delhi at 1.55 pm on Saturdays.
During the return journey, the train No 02504 will leave from New Delhi every Tuesday at 9.25 am with effect from October 20 and arrive at Dibrugarh at 5.15 am on Thursdays.
The 02552 Kamakhya-Yesvantpur-Kamakhya weekly AC special will depart from Kamakhya every Wednesday at 2 pm with effect from October 14 and reach Yesvantpur at 6.25 pm on Fridays.
During the return journey, train No 02551 will leave Yesvantpur at 8.30 am on Saturdays with effect from October 17 and arrive at Kamakhya at 2 pm on Mondays.
In addition, the 02520 Kamakhya-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus-Kamakhya weekly AC special will leave from Kamakhya every Thursday at 9 pm with effect from October 15. It will reach Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 5.30 pm on Saturdays.
During the return journey, train No 02519 will depart from Lokmanya Tilak Terminus at 7.50 am every Sunday with effect from October 18 and arrive at Kamakhya at 4.25 am on Tuesdays.
All the four pairs of trains will have 1st AC, 2nd AC and 3rd AC coaches.
�There will be no unreserved coaches in any of these trains. Passengers must download the Aarogya Setu app, and also strictly observe social distancing norms both at the stations and onboard the trains. Wearing of face covers at the entry and during travel is a must. Only asymptomatic passengers with confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter the railway stations and board the trains,� Chanda said.
It is noteworthy that all regular passenger train services across the Indian Railways, including Premium, Mail and Express, Passenger and narrow gauge train services, were suspended in the wake of COVID-19 since the last week of March.
Since May, the Railways have been operating a limited number of special trains in the long-distance routes to cater to essential travel.
A total of 14 pairs of special trains are presently in operation in the NFR zone.
