Over 30 trains cancelled as electronic interlocking starts at Amritsar railway station

AMRITSAR: Over 30 trains were cancelled as the electronic interlocking system installation has been started at the Amritsar railway station on Thursday.

The obsolete lever- frame system is being switched with a state-of-the-art electronic interlocking system. The Indian Railways has employed hundreds of workers to facilitate the transition by August 1. Officials concerned said that the new system will be operational from August 2. The estimated cost of the project is pegged at ₹50 crore.

Interlocking is an arrangement of signal points and other paraphernalia connected through mechanical and electrical locking so that railway operations can be carried out smoothly.

Hundreds of passengers were affected due to this. Trains coming to Amritsar were stopped outside the station, forcing the passengers to walk for approximately one kilometre.

Trains plying from Nangaldam to Amritsar (14506), Amritsar to Nangaldam (14505), Chandigarh to Amritsar (12411) and Amritsar to Chandigarh (12412) were cancelled on Thursday. Saharsa-amritsar (15209) has been cancelled from July 19 to 30, Amritsar-darbhanga (15212) from July 20 to 31, Chandigarhamritsar (12241) from July 25 to 31, Amritsar-chandigarh (12242) from July 26 to August 1, Haridwar-amritsar (12053) from July 25 to 31, Amritsar-haridwar (12054) from July 25 to 31, Mumbai Central-amritsar (11057) from July 24 to 30, Amritsarmumbai Central (11058) from July 26 to August 1, Darbhangaamritsar (15211) from July 24 to 29, and Amritsar-saharsa (15210) from July 26 to 31.

Amritsar-nanded (12422) will remain cancelled on July 23 and 30, Amritsar-new Jalpaiguri (12408) on July 20 and 27, Amritsar-gorakhpur (22424) on July 22 and 29, Amritsar-saharsa (14604) on July 25 and August 1, Amritsar-dibrugarh (15934) on July 27, Atari-jabalpur (01708) on July 22, 25 and 29, Jabalpur-atari (01707) on July 21, 24 and 28, Dibrugarh-amritsar (15933) on July 24, Saharsa-amritsar (14603) on July 20 and 27, Gorakhpur-amritsar (22423) on July 23 and 30, New Jalpaiguri-amritsar (12407) on July 25 and August 1, Nanded-amritsar (12421) on July 25 and August 1, Jalandhar City-new Delhi (14682), New Delhi-jalandhar City (14681), Amritsar-new Delhi (12460), and New Delhi-amritsar (12459) from July 19 to 31.

Amritsar-hisar-amritsar (54601/02) will remain cancelled from July 21 to 31, and Hisarludhiana-hisar (54605/06) from July 22 to 31.