In another step to provide relief to passengers who will be hit by fog and affected by train delays, the Centre for Railway Information Systems (CRIS) has launched its mini-site for fog-related information in collaboration with railyatri.in.

The website, which can be accessed at http://events.trainenquiry.com/fog, will provide information related to fog report on routes over the last 24 hours, current-time list of trains affected by fog, cancellations and diversions due to fog and trains rescheduled from origin. All four sets of information will inform people about the delay in trains due to fog in a bid to let them plan their journey better.

The website will be updated every 2 to 10 minutes so that the passengers can get the latest information on the status of their trains.

According to information, fog affects between 60 lakh and 70 lakh passengers every winter, with most stranded or forced to reschedule journeys due to train delays.

Sunil Bajpai, group general manager (FOIS), CRIS, said that the website has come out at the right time and will help the passengers in managing their journeys in the upcoming fog conditions, especially in North India. “There is no way to predict fog; the best you can do is inform people about it so that they are well informed to plan their travel.”

Bajpai explained that though the trains run on pre-determined routes created especially for the train, moving a train at its normal route on a fog affected path is against the safety of the passengers in the train and of any strayed animal or person who might be present on the track. “The trains tracks are exclusively for the trains however, we cannot blindly assume that the train tracks are clear,” he said. 

“Slowing down one train in a fog affected area has an avalanche effect on the rest of the trains which delays the entire operations of the trains,” he added.

As fog is a common occurrence during winter especially in the north regions, and predicting its exact occurrence is not possible, the latest service from Indian Railways will help the passengers be more informed and prepared while travelling by trains in winter.

“The cancellations, delays and every other information related to running of trains in fogs will be available at one place to help the people plan better,” Bajpai said.