SALIENT FEATURES – ALTERNATE TRAIN ACCOMMODATION SCHEME -“VIKALP”

20-10-2022

With a view to provide confirmed accommodation to waitlisted passengers and also to ensure optimal utilisation of available accommodation, Alternate Train Accommodation Scheme (ATAS) known as 'VIKALP' has been introduced in all Mail/Express trains. In this Scheme wait listed passenger has to give an option at the time of booking of ticket & those passenger subject to availability of vacant accommodation. Broad features of the scheme are as under:- 1• The passengers can exercise the option for getting shifted to a train upto 72 hours of scheduled departure of original train in which waitlisted ticket was booked. 2• All the passengers booked under the scheme are given an option

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What do the 5 digits in a train number mean?
June 22, 2019

On December 20, 2010, IR switched to a system of 5-digit numbers that are supposed to be used for all passenger trains across its system. The first digit In the 5-digit train numbering scheme, the first digit indicates the type of the passenger train, as follows: 0 is for special trains (e.g., summer specials, holiday specials, etc.) 1 is for

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Why do locos sometimes use the rear pantograph and sometimes the front pantograph?
June 22, 2019

There is in principle no difference between using the front and the rear pantographs for most locos as each is fully capable of delivering the required electric current from the catenary to the loco. (The AC-DC locos are special in that each loco is intended for a different traction supply.) Generally on IR there is no need for both pantographs to

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How do the AC-DC locos (WCAM series) switch from one power source to another on the run?
June 22, 2019

The WCAM-1 has a selector on the rightmost side of horizontal control panel for selecting the pantograph. It has four positions, DC, AC, DC-ALT and AC-ALT. In DC and AC-ALT mode, pantograph with two collector shoes is raised; in AC and DC-ALT, pantograph with one collector shoe is raised. The DC pantograph has two shoes and is thicker in its

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Why is the neutral section provided with a dummy (neutral or electrically dead) cable? Why can’t it be a real gap?
June 22, 2019

Pantographs of electric locomotives have a spring mechanism or compressed-air assembly that keeps the pantograph pushing up against the contact wire with a certain specific pressure. If the neutral section were not wired and the contact wire simply ceased to exist, then then possibility exists that if the driver has not dropped the pantographs at

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Where can I see some preserved coaches, wagons, and other rolling stock?
June 22, 2019

The National Railway Museum has the following: Broad gauge Oudh and Rohilkund Railway Saloon of 1890 4 wheel saloon Oudh and Rohilkund Railway Covered wagon 148 Central Workshops Alambagh, Lucknow 1879 Gaekwar's Baroda State Railway Saloon Parel workshops of BBCI 1886 MSMR 6 wheel Saloon built by Southern Railway at Perambur EIR Sheep wagon

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What are the common configurations of IR coaches?
June 22, 2019

The BG 3-tier sleeper coach is very common, and provides accommodation for 72 persons. Each compartment in it has 6 berths: 3 seats forming a bench on either side of the compartment; these form two bunks, the back-rests of the seats fold out to become bunks at night, and lastly, there are two bunks further up. Across the aisle from a compartment

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