Multiple grid collapses hit train services again

New Delhi: Train services in Northern and Eastern states suffered major disruption for the second consecutive day today in the wake of power failure, giving a harrowing time to passengers. With the Northern and Eastern Grids failing, movement of more than 300 trains was disrupted from 1.04 pm in seven zones covering as many as 10 states and the traffic was restored partially in different sections by the evening.[caption id=“attachment_398961” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Stranded on track. Reuters[/caption] Alternative power supply was arranged to run the stranded trains. We were able to restore operations in Northern Railway from Delhi towards Kanpur and from Delhi towards Kota and Itarsi by 2.15 pm and in East Coast Railway by 2.30 pm, said SK Saxena, executive director (energy), Railway Board. He also said that barring the section between Mughal Sarai and Gaya, train services in the busy Delhi-Howrah route have largely been restored. However, goods trains continued to remain stranded as the priority of railways was to run passenger trains. The worst affected zones in the wake of power grid collapse were Northern Railway, North Central Railway, East Central Railway, East Coast Railway, and parts of Eastern Railway, South Eastern Railways and West Central Railway. “While railways was trying to to normalise train services after yesterday’s power outage in northern states, we have once again been hit by power failure today,” said railway spokesperson. Trains bound for Delhi, Amritsar, Jammu, Ferozepur, Kalka and other places came to halt mid-way following power failure, Northern Railway spokesperson said, adding Ambala-Kalka and Kalka-Ambala passenger trains were cancelled. Delhi-bound Amrapali Express and the Paschim Express, heading towards Mumbai, were being operated by diesel engines, the officials said. The signal system was also affected at a number of places due to the grid collapse. PTI