Sajid Raina
Jammu, Dec 23: In a bid to minimise delays caused by dense fog during the winter season and to enhance passenger convenience, Northern Railway’s Jammu Division has introduced the provision of “scratch rakes” or additional rakes for select trains.
An official said, “The initiative aims to ensure timely departure and arrival of trains that are often affected by severe fog conditions during winter, particularly in North India.”
“Under this arrangement, an additional fully prepared rake is kept on standby and pressed into service when the original train rake is delayed significantly due to fog or other operational constraints,” the officials added.
According to railway officials, the facility has been implemented for Train No. 12414 Jammu Tawi–Ajmer Express and Train Nos. 22478/22477 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra–New Delhi–Katra Express.
The scratch rake will be utilised when the original rake of these trains is delayed by seven hours or more, or when the delay is indefinite, enabling the scheduled train service to operate on time, the officials added.
The decision has been taken under the directions of Divisional Railway Manager Vivek Kumar, with coordinated efforts by the Senior Divisional Commercial Manager and Senior Divisional Operations Manager of Jammu Division.
Officials said the move reflects a proactive operational strategy to tackle recurring winter challenges and reduce inconvenience to passengers.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager Uchit Singhal said the introduction of scratch rakes was a significant step towards improving reliability during foggy conditions. “Trains frequently face delays in winter due to dense fog, which disrupts schedules and causes hardship to passengers. The operation of scratch rakes or additional rakes will help ensure timely running of trains and reduce long waiting hours at stations,” he said.
Singhal added that the initiative would not only improve punctuality but also contribute to better crowd management and passenger satisfaction.
“The primary objective is to ensure comfortable and timely travel for passengers during the winter season. These additional arrangements will also help the railways meet increasing passenger demand in the future,” he said.
Railway officials noted that the measure is part of a broader set of initiatives undertaken by the Jammu Division to improve passenger amenities and operational efficiency.
The successful implementation of scratch rakes, they said, demonstrates the railways’ preparedness and commitment to addressing seasonal operational challenges while prioritising passenger needs.
Notably, the winter fog often leads to cascading delays across the rail network in North India, and officials believe that such contingency measures will play a key role in maintaining service reliability during the season.
