Manmad trains resort to old timings

NASHIK: Good monsoon this year has ensured enough water at the Manamd railway station for replenishing the water tank, allowing the Railways to recall its decision of refilling water in three of its trains - Panchavati Express, Godavari Express and Rajya Rani Express - thus saving halt time at the Nashik Road railway station.
"The decision of cutting down on the watering of trains at the Nashik Road railway station has now been reversed with the availability of water at Manmad junction where the three trains running from Manmad to Mumbai terminate.The trains are serviced and cleaned daily at Manmad. Watering of the coaches was a problem during the summer as Nandgaon taluka is perennially drought-hit and dry," a senior railway officer said.
Nandgaon has so far received 60% of its annual rainfall of 315mm. "Since January, the Railways had put the onus of watering trains on Nashik Road railway station given that there was no water in Manmad," the railway officer said.
This had resulted in increase in stoppage time of trains at Nashik Road.
"The halt time of Panchavati Express was increased from three minutes to six minutes and that of Rajya Rani and Godavari was increased from five minutes to nine minutes during the period to fill water in the coach," the officer pointed out.
Nandgaon, which hosts Mandmad junction, has received some rainfall but its major sources of water, the Palkhed Dam complex in Dindori taluka, however has good storage.
Last year, owing to poor rains and low water storage, the Railways had to shift the watering location for these trains to Nashik, probably for the first time. "Now the trains will be watered at their point of origin and the halt timings of the all the three trains have been revised to the original ones," he added.
Rajesh Fokane, member of the Bhusawal division of the divisional railway users' consultative committee, pointed out that the decision of cutting down the halt time was good and it would bring in major change in the chances of the train moving ahead of Duronto Express.
"Generally, considering the departure time of Panchavati Express, the Duranto Express was allowed to overtake the it, which that delayed its journey from Nashik. This affected the punctuality of Panchavati Express. With the rollback, the Panchavati Exrpesss will not have to wait for Duronto Express any more," Fokane said.