Indian Railways has rolled out its new timetable on August 15th. The new timetable has changed the timing of over 300 trains in Northern Railways alone. Many trains' terminating stations has been changed to decongest stations. Several new trains have also been included in the list.

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Here are the key highlights of the new timetable:

* Terminating station of 23 key trains have been changed. Out of these, 12 trains are in Northern Railway, five in North Central Railway, one each in East Central Railway and North Western Railway and four trains in South Central Railway.

* 20 trains have been shifted to adjacent terminals to streamline operations

* New timetable 'Trains At A Glance' reflects a policy change of the railways with regards to the maximum permissible speed of a train. According to new norms, the trains having a maximum permissible speed (MPS) of 110 kmph will run at 105 kmph and those having 120 kmph of MPS will run at 115 kmph.

* The Rajdhani, Shatabdi, Tejas, Gatimaan, Humsafar, Garibrath, Duronto and Antyodaya Express trains having MPS of 130 kmph have been charted at 130 kmph only.

* The new timetable accommodates new trains as well as those whose services have been extended. In the current year up to August 14, 35 new trains have been introduced, 28 services have been extended and five trains frequency have been increased.

* The timetable shows that one new Antyodaya Express, two new Tejas Express and two new Uday Express trains will be introduced in next 12 months.

* Corridor blocks: To provide sufficient time for the maintenance of the fixed infrastructure like track structure, signalling gears, overhead equipment, it has been planned to ensure the provision of fixed corridor blocks. Zonal Railways have incorporated traffic corridor blocks of 2.5 to 3 hours duration in the new Working Time Table w.e.f. 15.08.2018.  In the WTT 2018, the duration of corridor blocks is about 292 hours more than the corridor blocks available in WTT 2017.

* Mega blocks: In addition, 4 to 5 hours mega block has also been worked out in different sections of each Division on one day of the week (preferably Sunday) to carry out major maintenance work. Mega blocks on more than 95% sections in all the Divisions of Indian Railways have been incorporated in the new timetable. The intimation of mega block planned for Sunday is to be conveyed to the Railway Board by Tuesday. In case mega block is availed, Zonal Railways may allow 2 hours corridor block on 3 alternate days in the week.

* Timings of 67 trains that run from Kolkata have been changed. Timings of 12301 Rajdhani, 12321 Mumbai Mail, 12307 Jodhpur Express, 22511 Kamakhya Express, 12303 Purva Express and 15721 New Jalpaigudi Expres have changed.

* Western Railways will be running some new trains including Humsafar and Mahamana express. WR has introduced 14 new trains and has extended journey of 26 existing trains. It has converted 8 passenger trains into MEMU and has increased frequency of 4 trains.

* Southern Railways has also changed timings of 41 trains running from Chennai. It will also start a new train named Tambaram-Sengottai Antyoday Express.

Passengers are requested to check the timings of their trains before leaving for the railway station.