Railway - Current Affairs Questions and Answers

ANSWER: Western Railway Zone

Explanation:
Indian Railway has over 30 thousand level crossings out of which nearly 40% are unmanned ones. The West-Central Railway (WCR) Zone, with its headquarters at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh, became the first-ever zone of the Indian Railway to have eliminated all unmanned level crossings.

ANSWER: China

Explanation:
China on 28^th Dec 2016 commenced operations of Shanghai-Kunming line, the longest high speed railway in the world.

Link joins the prosperous east coast to the less developed southwestern part of the nation.

Launch of the Shanghai-Kunming line is an indication that China's high speed rail grid has taken shape and connects all provinces on most of the Chinese mainland.

The line is part of the China Railway High Speed's System of High Speed Rail Corridors, beginning in Shanghai and ending in Kunming.

China Railway High Speed is a high speed rail service operated by China Railway.

Hexie Hao is the designation for rolling stock operated for the service and CRH’s introduction was a major part of the sixth national railway speedup.

It was implemented on 18th April 2007 and every high speed train in commercial use in China is called CRH.

CRH1/2A/2B/2E/5 are expected to have a maximum speed of 250 km/h. CRH2C/3 have a maximum speed of 350 km/h.

The new trainsets CRH380A have a maximum test speed of 416.6 km/h. CRH380BL, the fastest trainset, attained a maximum test speed of 487.3 km/h.

Know More About the Shanghai-Kunming line

• Length: 2552 km
• Line is the longest east-west high speed railway in China.
• It passes through 5 provinces of Zhejiang, Hunan, Jiangxi, Guizhou and Yunnn.
• It completes the journey from Shanghai to Kunming in 11 hours as compared to 34 hours.
• Maximum speed of the train is 330 km/hour.

ANSWER: Both a and b

Explanation:
The Ministry of Railways has finally yielded to industry's demand and discontinued the dual freight policy for transportation of iron ore and iron ore pellets.

• This policy came into effect from May 10th
• The decision that is likely to result in a boost in the movement of iron ore, was hailed not only by trade and industry but zonal railways as well.
• Under the dual freight policy, transportation costs for iron ore or iron ore pellets meant for export were higher than that for loads meant for domestic use.

ANSWER: AP, Kerala

Explanation:
Railways has signed an MoU with AP and Kerala for project execution. MoUs were signed with Kerala and AP governments for forming JV companies for faster implementation of rail projects in states. JV companies will have 51% stake of respective state governments and 49% stake of the railways. Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu at the MoU signing ceremony indicated growing demand for numerous railway lines in many states.

ANSWER: Both b and c

Explanation:
Indian Railways has launched the facility for booking paperless unreserved tickets plus platform tickets for cutting down on queues in reservation counters. This initiate was started in suburban rail sections of Mumbai where close to 75 lakh passengers use the train services to commute between places. The IT enabled passenger services are in line with Digital India mission. Paperless ticket programme will also cover New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations. Currency coin cum card operated automatic ticket vending machine as also been launched at numerous Central and Western Railways on the occasion. Campaign will also be launched to combat ticketless travelling on Indian Railways.

ANSWER: Kolkata

Explanation:
South-Eastern Railway is the first to introduce Suvidha train to connect Kolkata and Ernakulam, a distance of 2,294 kilometer in just 37 hours. The first Suvidha train of South-Eastern Railway will start running from first of next month between Howrah and Ernakulam.

ANSWER: RAC e-ticket

Explanation:
Ministry of Railways has decided to grant automatic refund of confirmed or RAC e-tickets on cancellation of trains similar to waitlisted e-tickets. An official release said, there shall not be any requirement for cancellation or filing of TDR for refund of e-tickets in case of cancellation of trains. This has become effective from 13th of this month. However, in case of cancellation of trains, PRS counter ticket shall continue to be refunded across the reservation counter as per the existing provisions.

ANSWER: 1512

Explanation:
This helpline will serve as a very useful mechanism for rail passengers. Any person can make calls on this all-India Helpline Number from anywhere across the country.

ANSWER: Swiss Challenge Method

Explanation:
Swiss Challenge Method means a Private Sector Participant submits an unsolicited or suo-motu proposal and draft contract principles for undertaking a project, not already initiated by the Government Agency or the Local Authority. The Government Agency or the Local Authority then invites competitive counter proposals in such manner as may be prescribed by the Government.

ANSWER: Gujarat

Explanation:
The rail line is India’s first railway-line built with private sector participation under Non-Government Railway (NGR) Policy 2012 of Indian Railways. The broad-gauge railway line between Gandhidham and Tuna-Tekra Port in Gujarat was inaugurated by flagging off a goods train.