Northern Railway Rolls Out Scratch Rakes to Combat Winter Fog Delays and Ensure Timely Train Services in Jammu Division

Published on December 24, 2025

Northern Railway has rolled out the use of scratch rakes in its Jammu Division to effectively combat the delays caused by dense winter fog and ensure timely train services. This proactive step is designed to tackle the recurring issue of fog-related disruptions that frequently affect train schedules, especially in North India during the winter months. By keeping additional fully prepared rakes on standby, Northern Railway ensures that delayed trains can be replaced quickly, allowing scheduled services to operate on time. This initiative aims to minimize passenger inconvenience, improve punctuality, and ensure a smoother travel experience even during challenging weather conditions.

Winter fog in North India has long been a major obstacle for the rail network, often leading to extended delays, overcrowded stations, and frustrated passengers. To tackle this issue, the Jammu Division has implemented a proactive solution. Under this new arrangement, an extra fully prepared rake is kept on standby at all times. This scratch rake is deployed when the original rake of a train is delayed by significant hours due to fog or other operational constraints, allowing the scheduled service to continue without further disruption.

This strategy has been rolled out for several trains that frequently face delays due to fog, including Train No 12414 Jammu Tawi-Ajmer Express and Train Nos 22478 and 22477 Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra-New Delhi Katra Express. When the original rake is delayed by more than seven hours or when the delay is indefinite, the scratch rake is used to ensure the train departs on time, minimizing any inconvenience to passengers.

The decision to introduce scratch rakes is part of the Jammu Division’s broader efforts to improve operational efficiency and better serve passengers during the winter months. The initiative is particularly important as dense fog is a recurring problem that often leads to cascading delays across the entire North Indian rail network, causing a domino effect on subsequent services. By keeping additional rakes available for use, the railways aim to mitigate these disruptions and improve overall service reliability.

Officials have explained that the scratch rake initiative will help reduce crowding at stations, a common issue when delays occur. Passengers frequently experience long waits when trains are delayed, resulting in overcrowded platforms and frustration. The new system allows trains to run on schedule, minimizing delays and improving the flow of passengers. This will also contribute to better crowd management, especially during peak travel times when stations tend to be more crowded.

In addition to enhancing punctuality, the introduction of scratch rakes is expected to improve overall passenger satisfaction. The railways are increasingly under pressure due to growing passenger numbers, and this initiative is designed to address that demand. By ensuring that trains run on time, the railways can accommodate more passengers and meet rising travel needs, especially during the winter months when fog-related disruptions are most common.

Senior officials have emphasized that the scratch rake system is part of a wider set of measures being implemented by the Jammu Division to enhance the travel experience and operational effectiveness. This proactive approach shows the railways’ commitment to tackling seasonal challenges and ensuring that passengers have a smoother and more reliable journey. By addressing the specific issues caused by winter fog, this strategy ensures that trains continue to operate efficiently, even under adverse conditions.

The introduction of scratch rakes is just one part of a larger effort to improve operational resilience and customer service across the rail network. As dense fog often leads to delays that affect the punctuality of not only one train but multiple services in the region, this strategy is expected to play a key role in reducing the cascading impact of delays on the entire network.

The success of this initiative in the Jammu Division could potentially set a precedent for other regions facing similar weather-related disruptions. Railway officials believe that such contingency measures could become a standard part of winter operations across the network, providing a model for how the railways can adapt to seasonal challenges. The introduction of scratch rakes could ultimately help maintain reliable service throughout the winter season, ensuring that passengers experience fewer delays and greater comfort when traveling by train.

Northern Railway has introduced scratch rakes in its Jammu Division to combat winter fog delays and ensure timely train services. This initiative aims to minimize disruptions and improve punctuality during foggy conditions.

In conclusion, the implementation of scratch rakes by Northern Railway’s Jammu Division represents a significant step toward improving the reliability and efficiency of train services during the winter months. By providing an additional train rake to replace delayed services, the railways aim to maintain punctuality and minimize the impact of fog on passenger travel. This initiative, along with other ongoing efforts to improve operations, will contribute to a more seamless travel experience for passengers, making winter train travel more convenient and less stressful.