ELECTRIC ENGINE TRAINS START OPERATING, KINDLES HOPE FOR LONG DISTANCE TRAINS

Raj Sadosh/Abohar.

Operation of passenger trains using electric engines on the Bathinda-Abohar-Sriganganagar route started today.

Senior BJP leader Sunil Jakhar and MLA Sandeep Jakhar had some time back apprised the Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw that electrification work needs to be completed to start operating trains using electric engines.

As soon as the Ambala-Sriganganagar train reached Abohar station with an electric engine, passengers welcomed it with cheers. In a letter issued in this regard by North-Western Railways on June 10, it has been announced that four trains of this track will be run on electric engines from June 13. Which has come into effect from today.

Available information indicated that four trains have been given permission to run on electric engines, these are Delhi-Sriganganagar Intercity, Sriganganagar-Rishikesh, Sarai Rohilla-Bikaner Express and Ambala-Sriganganagar trains.

According to railway sources, by running the train with an electric engine, there will be a saving of time of about 60 to 90 minutes between Sriganganagar and Delhi, because the hassle of changing the power system at Bathinda will end and the speed of the train will also increase. Electrification work on the 127 km long railway track between Bathinda-Abohar-Sriganganagar was completed about two months ago at a cost of Rs 116.75 crore.

With the commencement of electric train service on the route, the possibility of running long distance trains via Abohar has also become stronger.