From August 1, the last Metro train on the airport line will wait for Shatabdi train passengers at the New Delhi Railway station terminal at night, in case the trains get delayed. Moreover, services will also start early to ensure passengers reach on time to catch the early morning departing Shatabdi trains.
“All Shatabdi Express trains reach New Delhi by latest 11.05 p.m. However, (instead of departing at 11:30 p.m.) the Airport Express services will wait for maximum 15 more minutes up to 11.45 p.m. in case of any delay in these trains,” a Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) release said.
Synchronising the run of Metro trains on airport line with that of Shatabdi Express trains is a part of DMRC’s strategy to increase ridership in the 22.7-km airport line, from which Reliance Infrastructure exited recently. Airport line sees a ridership of 13,500 people now.
The steps, based on customer feedback, include increase operating hours, speed and frequency of trains.
The statement said, “The first train service from both the terminal stations — Dwarka Sector 21 and New Delhi — will start at 4:45 a.m. instead of the present 5:30 a.m. at New Delhi and 5.15 a.m. at Dwarka Sector 21. The last train will, however, continue to depart from the New Delhi station at 11.30 p.m. and from Dwarka Sector 21 at 11.15 p.m.”
As a result of the rejig, daily train trips will increase to 180 from 146 at present. The operating speed of the trains on the Airport Express line will also be increased to 80 km per hour from the existing 70 km per hour.
The frequency of the trains during peak hours will also be revised to 10 minutes and 30 seconds instead of the existing 15 minutes from August 1. During off-peak hours, it will remain 15 minutes, as earlier. The morning peak hours are from 7.30 a.m. to noon while the evening peak hours are from 3 p.m. to 7.30 p.m. The peak hours have been decided keeping in view the timings of the arrival and departure of flights at the Terminal 3 of Indira Gandhi International Airport.
“This change in schedule will tremendously help the passengers of the Shatabdi Express trains which depart from the New Delhi railway station early in the morning and reach back late in the night. Now, the Shatabdi Express passengers coming from the airport or the nearby areas will be able to take the early morning services of the Airport link and reach the New Delhi railway station. Similarly, the passengers arriving by the train at New Delhi late in the night, with the intention of going to the airport will be able to take the last Airport link service from New Delhi,” said an official release.
mamuni.das@thehindu.co.in