Despite problems due to faulty rakes, the Western Railway punctuality touched an all time high in 2008-2009. According to the railway sources, the punctuality of trains was 100 per cent on 21 days.

However, at present the punctuality of WR trains is 97 per cent. The Central Railway too has not been lagging behind when it comes to punctuality. It recorded 100 per cent punctuality for the first time on June 15 and 17 this year, claimed CR officials.

While the average of punctuality in WR is between 96 and 97 percent, in CR it is around 95 per cent.

Shyam Sunder Gupta, Chief Public Relations officer, WR, said, “There are various factors which affect the punctuality. This year, the faulty rakes were one of the major factors. Besides, there were some operational and technical reasons like signal failure, breakage of OHE wires, accidents during line crossing, trespassing and roof travelling.”

Srinivas Mudgerikar, CPRO, CR, explained, “This year, our punctuality was around 95 per cent but from the last month it has been 97.4 per cent. Apart from technical and operational factors, there is lot of cross overs and change over points on our line. Also, there is a goods trains movement which leads to delay on our line.”

He added, “Our punctuality cannot be compared with WR as our section is vast. Also the movement of goods trains is less on their route. In CR, there are 150 up and down mail and express outstation trains while this figure is 80 on WR apart from holiday specials,” said a senior official from CR.

... contd.