Interrupted Services Regarding Local Trains Movement at South

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Research Paper IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews 741

Interrupted Services Regarding Local Trains Movement at South-

Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal

Dr. Priyanka Kundu

Assistant Teacher in Geography

Ratnali Adarsha Balika Vidyalaya

Received: April 10, 2018 Accepted: May 09, 2018

ABSTRACT

Railway transport is the major backbone behind development of any nation. South-eastern railway

is a part of commuter suburban railway system. Therefore, the services related to flow of the trains are very much

significant. It is observed that maximum flow of the local trains are circulated surrounding some major stations like

Santragachi, Kharagpur etc. Similarly the area of influence under local trains have maximum potential value within

Santragachi railway station.The commuters flow pattern is manageable and controllable. However, the most important

aspect is the problems faced by the commuters regarding unsatisfactory railway services like absence of punctuality in

the scheduled movement of trains, signalling problems, absence of alternate tracks for Express trains, cancellation of

the scheduled trains, degradation of the utility of railway assets etc. Therefore, the commuters have to opt for

alternative routes through the timely bus services. Focus must be given to these problems in order to have

uninterrupted railway services.

Keywords: Commuter suburban railway system, area of influence, flow of passengers, unsatisfactory railway services.

1. Introduction:

Railway is an important mode of transportation for the development of any country. The network along

with the services related to transportation are very much significant for betterment of the socio-economic

development. The most important aspect of railway network in West Bengalis Kolkata suburban railway

system or the commuter railway system. The frequency and punctuality of the services related to local

trains movement are important conditions related to the uninterrupted services of the railway network.

However, the commuter railway system in the south-eastern railway zone suffers from various difficulties

like irregularity, non-punctuality, mismanagement in local trains movement. As a result, the commuters face

obstacles. They have to opt for other alternatives to reach their destination on time. This has been a major

problem in the railway movement in West Bengal on the present context. The intensity of railway networks

can not justify the level of services. The facts related to these interrupted services, major problems, related

measures are going to be the issues of discussion in this context.

2. Objectives:

The present endeavour aims:

 To illustrate the exact scenario of local trains movement within south-eastern railway zone.

 To highlight the major problems faced by the passengers regarding interrupted services of the local

trains movement at south-eastern railway zone.

 To focus on the possible impacts of these interrupted train services and

 To give some suggestions regarding betterment of the services and removing the problems.

3. Database and Methodology:

The overall study is supported by very strong database. All the records and information related to

movement of the local trains, area of influence under local trains movement, frequency and flow pattern of

the passengers are available from the Railway Board of the Government of India. Besides, the perception

study was conducted on the passengers and commuters based on questionnaire survey. After acquiring the

data, these were computed and processed based on some quantitative and cartographic tools and

techniques. The records on the local trains movement are represented through the flow diagrams. These

follow the rules that “Higher the widths, higher is the number of local trains”. Area of influence under local

trains movement and maximum potential zones are derived through gravity potential model after Stewart

(1948). It is formulated as: I

= K (P

) Where, I

is the interaction between two places I and j, P

and P

are the population of two places and d

is the distance between two places. The level of interaction between

two places is positively related to the number of local trains and is inversely related to the distance between

two places. The data and information are processed and represented through maps in order to have proper

and appropriate interpretation.

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4. Railway Network within South-Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal:

Railways constitute the strongest communication system in the realm of infrastructure (Ganguly, 1977). It

has excellent connectivity to all the major cities of the country on railway network (Govt. of West Bengal,

2013). The operation of this railway zone started in 1955 (www.wikipedia.com). There are altogether four

divisions within South-Eastern railway zone-Adra, Kharagpur, Chakradharpur and Ranchi division among

which Adra and Kharagpur divisions run within West Bengal.

 Railway Network within Adra Division:The Adra division of railway network is extended within

Paschim Medinipur, Bankura, Purulia and Bardhaman districts of West Bengal. Some stretches are Broad

Gauge (B.G) double line constructed within West Bengal (Fig: 1). Some others stretches are Broad Gauge

single lines within West Bengal.There are still no Broad Gauge multiple lines within this division.

 Railway Network within Kharagpur Division:Kharagpur division is spread over the States of

Odisha, West Bengal and Jharkhand (www.cleartrip.com). This division is extended through the districts of

Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Purba Medinipur and Haora (Fig: 1). The stretch running from Haora to

Kharagpur is Broad Gauge multiple line within West Bengal. Some stretches are Broad Gauge single lines.

Others parts are included within Broad Gauge double lines.

5. Flow of the Local Trains and Area of Influence under Local Trains Movement: South-eastern

railway has an important role in Kolkata suburban railway system. The suburban rail traffic accounts for

over 17.38% of commuting into central Kolkata (CMDA Report, 2001). The number of local trains gradually

decreases with increasing distance. Maximum number of local trains are running from Howrah to

Kharagpur (Table: 1). Flow of the local trains from Howrah to Purulia, Haldia, Jhargram, Bankura and Digha

are very much negligible (Fig: 2).

Area under South-Eastern Railway Network in West Bengal, India, 2018 West Bengal in India

South-Eastern Railway Network in West Bengal, 2018

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Research Paper IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews 743

Fig: 1 Source: Compiled from the Railway Board, Govt. of India, 2018The area of influence of suburban

railway system is extended upto Midnapore, Bankura, Digha, Purulia, Haldia and Jhargram (Fig: 3).

Table: 1 Different Railway Routes in South-Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal, 2018

Source: Railway Board, Govt. of India, 2018

Flow of the Local Trains within South-Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal, 2018

Fig: 2Source: Compiled from the Railway Board, Govt. of India, 2018

Area of Influence under Local Trains Movement within South-Eastern Railway Zone in West Bengal,

2018

Fig: 3Source: Compiled from the Railway Board, Govt. of India, 2018

Railway Routes

Time Required

Number of Trains per Day

Howrah-Midnapore

03:15 Hours

Howrah-Kharagpur

03:00 Hours

126

Howrah-Panskura

01:53 Hours

Howrah-Mecheda

01:38 Hours

Howrah-Uluberia

01:00 Hours

Howrah-Santragachi

00:20 Hours

Howrah-Digha

03:22 Hours

Howrah-Bankura

03:35 Hours

Howrah-Adra

05:05 Hours

Howrah-Purulia

05:25 Hours

Howrah-Haldia

03:38 Hours

Howrah-Jhargram

02:50 Hours

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744 IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews Research Paper

Table: 2 Flow of the Passengers through the Local Trains within South-Eastern Railway Zone in West

Bengal, 2018

1. Towards Santragachi Rail Station from Howrah

Below Standing Capacity

2. Towards Kharagpur Rail Station from Howrah

Above Sitting Capacity

3. Towards Medinipur Rail Station from Howrah

Below Sitting Capacity

4. Towards Adra Rail Station from Purulia

Above Sitting Capacity

(Where, Below Sitting Capacity < Above Sitting Capacity < Below Standing Capacity)

Source: Computed by the author from Peoples’ Perception Survey, 2018

But maximum influential zone of commuter linkage is established up to Santragachi railway station because

this is a part of Kolkata suburban railway zone. Based on the number of local trains movement, maximum

frequency of the railway services along with maximum level of accessibility is concentrated up to

Santragachi station.

6. Flow of the Passengers through the Local Trains: Most of the passengers move within Kolkata

surrounding outskirts. The flow analysis is here computed through three important parameters viz. crowd

below sitting capacity, above sitting capacity, below standing capacity etc. Most of the stretches are having

crowd below sitting capacity. Only the route towards, Kharagpur and Santragachi have comparatively better

commuters’ flow and resultant crowd (Table: 3).

7. Problems Faced by the Passengers Regarding Local Trains Movement within South-Eastern

Railway Zone in West Bengal:The commuters moving through the south-eastern railways face different

kinds of problems related to interrupted railway services listed below:

 Absence of Punctuality in the Scheduled Movement of Trains: The trains in the south-eastern

railway often don’t maintain the time schedule both in arrival and in departure.

 Signalling Problem: Many times, the trains remain standing on the track due to not having

clearance of signals due to some mechanical faults.

 No Alternative Tracks for Express Trains: The local trains are often delayed due to passing

through the Express and Superfast trains.

 Interrupted Services of the Electronic Ticket Vending Machines (ETVMs): The ETVMs set at

different large railway stations are of no use now. The most important reason is the lack of knowledge and

guidance of the people about its handling norms. Besides, somewhere the machines have become defunct

resulting into a long queue at the ticket counters.

 Long Interval between Two Train Services: Long gap between two consecutive trains result in

harassment of the passengers of getting the next trains in case of missing the first one.

 Cancellation of the Scheduled Trains and No Alternate Arrangement: The scheduled trains are

often cancelled out especially on the weekends and no alternative arrangements are taken. As a result, the

commuters and the others passengers face much trouble.

8. Suggestions: The problems faced by the commuters travelling through south-eastern railway may be

handled by different approaches. These are stated below:

 There should have punctuality in the scheduled movement of trains both in arrival and departure

of the trains to enhance the efficiency of services. It is often faced that late arrival of the trains becomes the

causes behind late presence of the employees at the working places.

 The mechanical problems of the signals should be often checked and treated so that the unexpected

delay due to signals may be restricted.

 The disturbances created due to inclement weather conditions in railway services must be

monitored and immediate actions should be taken in those cases.

 The utility of the railway assets like ETVMs, Railway Over Bridges (ROBs), railway coaches,

platform sheds, escalators etc. should be regularly checked and monitored to have their services.

 Different tracks for the Express trains movement within this railway zone might be enabled to cater

better local train services.

 Frequency of the local train services should be increased especially at the working hours.

1. The railway authority must be aware of the betterment of the services to the passengers because it

is the right to have fulfilment of the utility of this public asset.

9. Conclusion: The overall discussion throws light on the unsatisfactory railway services within South-

eastern railway zone. The commuters face problems regarding movement through the south-eastern

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Research Paper IJRAR- International Journal of Research and Analytical Reviews 745

railway zone. Therefore, most of them opt for the alternative routes through the regular bus services. It was

observed that, punctuality and regularity are two important aspects to be maintained during commutation.

In many cases, commuters are ready to bear extra transportation costs to get these two important services.

The railway authority must be aware of these facts. The railway services should be upgraded to attract

better commuters flow. In that case, proper planning with efficient implementation programmes regarding

railway services must be focussed. Lastly, the common people must also be aware of the maintenance of the

railway assets and cooperation with the railway authority to improve their services.

References:

Printed References:

1. Ganguly, D. S. (1977). Regional Economy of West Bengal: A Study of Urbanisation, Growth Potential and

Optimisation of Industrial Location. Orient Longman. Kolkata, pp. 83-108.

2. Government of India. (2018). Annual Report. Adra Division. Railways Board.

3. Government of West Bengal. (2001). Annual Report. Kolkata Metropolitan Development Authority.

4. Government of West Bengal. (2013). Draft Investment and Industrial Policy of West Bengal.

Electronic References:

1. South-eastern Railway Zone. (2018, April 4). Retrieved from www.wikipedia.com.

2. Railway Network within Kharagpur Division. (2018, April 15). Retrieved from www.Cleartrip.com.