12,000 special trains to carry 3 crore additional passengers

NEW DELHI: Railways will run around 12,000 special trains to clear the festive rush during Diwali and Chhath, and going by estimates, these would carry around three crore additional passengers - more than Australia's population - over 45 days, beginning Oct 1.

Railways minister Ashwini Vaishnaw Tuesday said another 150 completely unreserved trains will be kept ready to clear last minute rush. Till Tuesday, 10,000 special trains have been notified, and more will be announced gradually in line with demand, he said.

Last year, the national transporter operated 7,724 special trains carrying around 1.5 crore additional passengers during the festive season.

Vaishnaw said over 90% punctuality has been achieved in 29 of 70 railway divisions. On launch of Vande Bharat sleeper trains , he said the first rake is ready for rollout. "But we will start operations after getting another rake, which will arrive by Oct 15," he said. Officials did not rule out the possibility of the first train going to poll-bound Bihar.