**Executive Summary**
The document is an answer provided by the Minister of Railways to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 750, regarding the conversion of special trains into regular services, specifically addressing trains operating from Dhanbad. The question was scheduled to be answered on February 4, 2026. The response outlines the Railways' efforts to cater to passenger needs and the factors considered when regularizing special trains.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **General Railway Policy:**
* Indian Railways continuously strives to meet the needs of traveling passengers through the introduction of new services, extension of existing routes, and increased frequency of trains.
* Special trains are operated to supplement regular services during peak seasons, festivals, and religious gatherings to accommodate extra passenger traffic.
* **Special Trains Operation:**
* Train Nos. 03309/10 (Dhanbad-Jammu Tawi), 03379/80 (Dhanbad-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus), 06063/64 (Coimbatore-Dhanbad), and 02831/32 (Dhanbad-Bhubaneswar) have been operating as special trains.
* Currently, the Dhanbad-Jammu Tawi, Dhanbad-Lokmanya Tilak (T), and Dhanbad-Coimbatore sectors are served by 2 pairs, 1 pair, and 1 pair of regular trains, respectively. The Dhanbad-Bhubaneswar sector is served by 1 pair of special train services.
* **Dhanbad-Jammu Tawi sector:**
* 13151/13152 Kolkata - Jammu Tawi Express
* 22317/22318 Sealdah - Jammu Tawi Humsafar Express
* **Dhanbad-Lokmanya Tilak(T) sector:**
* 12321/12322 Howrah - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj(T) Express
* **Dhanbad-Coimbatore sector:**
* 13351/13352 Dhanbad - Alappuzha Express
* **Dhanbad-Bhubaneswar sector:**
* 02831/02832 Dhanbad - Bhubaneswar Special
* **Regularization of Special Trains:**
* Proposals, requests, suggestions, and representations for regularization of trains are received from various stakeholders.
* The introduction and regularization of train services depend on several factors.
* **Factors Affecting Regularization:**
* Capacity of the specific railway section.
* Availability of path.
* Availability of required rolling stock.
* Availability of matching infrastructure for rolling stock.
* Maintenance requirements of railway tracks and other assets.
* Commercial justification and operational feasibility.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: Passengers of Dhanbad and Adjoining Regions**
* **Impact:** Potentially affected by the decision to convert special trains into regular services, which could influence the frequency and availability of train services in the region.
* **Action Required:** No direct action required, but may need to monitor railway announcements for changes in train schedules and availability.
**Stakeholder: Public Representatives**
* **Impact:** Their representations regarding the conversion of special trains into regular Express trains are considered.
* **Action Required:** Continue to submit representations, requests, and suggestions.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Railways**
* **Impact:** Responsible for evaluating the feasibility and justification of converting special trains to regular services.
* **Action Required:** Examine proposals, requests, suggestions, and representations.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Railways: The ministry responsible for answering questions about the conversion of special trains into regular services.
Indian Railways: The entity that operates both special and regular train services in India, mentioned in the context of catering to passenger needs and introducing new services.
Dhanbad: A location central to the applicability of the policy, as it is the origin or destination for all the special trains mentioned in the question.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.750
TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.02.2026
CONVERSION OF SPECIAL TRAINS INTO REGULAR SERVICES
750. SHRI DULU MAHATO:
Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state:
(a) whether it is a fact that Train Nos. 03309/10 (Dhanbad-Jammu Tawi),
03379/80 (Dhanbad-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus), 06063/64 (Coimbatore-
Dhanbad) and 02831/32 (Dhanbad-Bhubaneswar) have been operating
continuously for nearly a year as Special Trains with consistently high
occupancy and revenue and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether any representation has been received from public
representatives for their conversion into regular Express trains and if so, the
train-wise present status thereof;
(c) if not, the reasons therefor; and
(d) the details of time frame within which a final decision is expected in the
interest of passengers of Dhanbad and adjoining regions?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND
ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY
(SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW)
(a) to (d) Indian Railways constantly endeavours to cater to the needs of
travelling passengers and to this end, new services are introduced, existing
train services are extended and their frequency increased.
Moreover, to supplement the accommodation available by regular services
and to cater to the extra rush of passengers during peak seasons, festivals,
religious congregations etc., Indian Railways also operates special trains
and augments the loads of existing services, keeping in view the pattern of
1 of 3traffic, commercial justification, operational feasibility and availability of
resources etc. Accordingly, 03309/10 Dhanbad-Jammu Tawi Special,
03379/80 Dhanbad-Lokmanya Tilak Terminus Special, 06063/64 Coimbatore-
Dhanbad Special and 02831/32 Dhanbad-Bhubaneswar Special have been
operated.
At present, Dhanbad-Jammu Tawi sector, Dhanbad-Lokmanya Tilak (T)
sector and Dhanbad-Coimbatore sector is served by 02 pairs, 01 pair and 01
pair of regular train services respectively, while Dhanbad-Bhubaneswar
sector is served by 01 pair of special train services as under:
Dhanbad-Jammu Tawi sector:
SN Train Number and Name
1 13151/13152 Kolkata - Jammu Tawi Express
2 22317/22318 Sealdah - Jammu Tawi Humsafar Express
Dhanbad-Lokmanya Tilak(T) sector:
SN Train Number and Name
1 12321/12322 Howrah - Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj(T) Express
Dhanbad-Coimbatore sector:
SN Train Number and Name
1 13351/13352 Dhanbad - Alappuzha Express
Dhanbad-Bhubaneswar sector:
SN Train Number and Name
1 02831/02832 Dhanbad - Bhubaneswar Special
Further, proposals/requests/suggestions/representations, both formal and
informal inter alia for regularisation/introduction of trains are received from
2 of 3Members of Parliament, elected representatives, organizations/rail users
etc. at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Divisional
Office etc. As receipt of such proposals/requests/suggestions is a
continuous and dynamic process, centralized compendium of such
requests is not maintained. However, these are examined and action as
found feasible and justified is taken from time to time, which is an on-going
process.
Moreover, introduction of new train services/regularisation of special train
services on any route/section depends on various factors which include:
● Capacity of that section
● Availability of path
● Availability of required rolling stock
● Availability of matching infrastructure for rolling stock
● Maintenance requirement of railway tracks and other assets
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