Coal crisis: Railways cancels 42 passenger trains; some to be restored soon

The Railways has cancelled 42 passenger trains in order to prioritise coal rake movement across the country to deal with a shortage of the vital input at thermal power plants, the national transporter said on Thursday.

While 40 of these trains will remain cancelled till May 24, the other two will be restored by May 8.

The transporter, which has prioritised the movement of coal rakes in the last few weeks, has pushed in 86 per cent of its open wagons towards carrying the essential commodity to the power plants.

“The total number of trains cancelled is 40, which includes previously cancelled trains. Total number of trips cancelled is 1,081, which will remain cancelled till May 24,” a spokesperson for the Railways said.