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Military specials may halt new trains in their tracks

EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

NEW DELHI, JUNE 30: The Railways -- running several military specials carrying troops and equipment to the border for the Kargil operations -- have delayed the introduction of some new trains on this account.

Northern Railway general manager S P Mehta on Tuesday said the military specials were also affecting the running of some existing trains. "In fact, some may even have to be suspended," he said. The Railways were bearing most of the burden of transferring men and material to the borders, he said, releasing the new timetable of Northern Railway, effective from July 1.

The carrying capacity of existing trains was being augmented by adding coaches, Mehta said. With increased rail traffic hindering introduction of more specials during peak season, maximum stress had been laid on augmenting the capacity of existing trains. "As many as 24 coaches in eight trains have been added this year," he said.

The GM said that Northern Railway had fulfilled the commitments made by Railway Minister Nitish Kumar in the1998-99 Railway Budget. Five new trains promised in the last years' Budget were being introduced from July onwards.

Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.

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