Delhi-Jammu train chugs off tomorrow, to halt at Ludhiana

Kuldip Bhatia

Ludhiana, May 11

The decision of the Ministry of Railways to run AC special trains from New Delhi to several major cities across the country from May 12 has come as a big relief to those stuck away from their homes due to the Covid-19 lockdown.

In this region, the lone special train will run from New Delhi to Jammu Tawi every day from May 13 and from Jammu Tawi to New Delhi from May 14 onwards. The train will have a single stoppage in Ludhiana on both sides.

The New Delhi-Jammu Tawi-New Delhi special train will be the first to operate since the imposition of lockdown on March 23.

A senior railway official told The Tribune over phone (from New Delhi) that ticket booking commenced at 4 pm today on the IRCTC website and no tickets would be issued at the ticket counters. The special trains would have fare structure based on the Rajdhani Express with a few stoppages.

Only those passengers having reservation and agreeing to undergo screening and abiding by other Covid protocols would be allowed to board the trains, he added.

“There will be no provision of ‘tatkal’ and ‘premium tatkal’ booking nor there will be concession in rail fare. The time-table of the trains is being given the final touches and departure and arrival time will be intimated to passengers at the time of booking tickets in advance on the IRCTC website,” the official said.