As the Covid-19 cases continue to dip across the country, the Indian Railways has added 660 more trains in June to facilitate the movement of migrant labourers and clear the waiting list in various origin-destination clusters.

During the pre-Covid times, about 1,768 mail and express trains were operating daily on an average, it said in a statement.

The Railways also added that about 983 mail and express trains are being operated daily as on Friday, which is about 56 per cent of the pre-Covid level. The number of trains is being enhanced gradually in accordance with the demand and commercial justification, it said.

In the statement, the Railways further added that about 800 mail and express trains were in operation as on June 1.

S.No. Rly MSPC HSP Total
1 CR 24 2 26
2 ECR 10 8 18
3 ER 64 4 68
4 NCR 16 0 16
5 NER 32 6 38
6 NFR 28 0 28
7 NR 158 0 158
8 NWR 32 2 34
9 SCR 20 64 84
10 SECR 16 0 16
11 SER 44 16 60
12 SR 66 4 70
13 WCR 28 0 28
14 WR 14 2 16
 Total 552 108 660

From June 1 to June 18  660 additional mail/express trains were approved to the Zonal railway, which includes 552 mail and express trains and 108 holiday special trains.

The zonal railways have been advised to restore trains in a graded manner, keeping in view the local conditions, the demand for tickets and the Covid situation in the region.

Mean-while, The Central government in a landmark decision on June 9 has also approved the allocation of 5MHz 4G spectrum for Railways. Giving further details, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar said that the 5 megahertz spectrum in 700 MHz band for Railways will improve its communication system and make rail travel safer.

“Railways will be provided with 5 megahertz spectrum in 700 MHz band. It will improve its communication system and make rail travel safer. Railway currently uses optical fibre. With the availability of spectrum, there will be radio communication,” Prakash Javadekar said at a press briefing.

Javadekar also added that Rs 25,000 crore will be spent in the next 5 years for signal modernisation and 5G spectrum implementation in Railways.