NEW DELHI: The Indian Railways will resume train services suspended to control the spread of COVID-19. The services of special trains will start from tomorrow. In the first phase, special services will be operated from New Delhi to various states including Thiruvananthapuram and will also include return journeys.

Tickets are available only online. There will be no ticket counters in railway stations. Reservation will start from 4 pm today. Tickets can be booked in IRCTC website. Passengers are requested to reach the railway station at least an hour before.

Masks are mandatory for the passengers. Thermal scanning will be done. In a press release, the railways have asserted that only passengers with no symptoms will be allowed to travel.

There will be services in all Rajadhani routes. Fare of superfast trains will be charged for travel in AC coaches. Blankets will not be given in the AC coaches. Temperatures will be kept slightly higher and we will ensure the maximum supply of only fresh air. There will be no pantry service on these trains. There will be only limited stops. Railway ticket booking counters at the railway stations shall remain closed and no counter tickets, including platform tickets, will be issued. Only passengers with valid confirmed tickets will be allowed to enter the railway stations.

After the first phase, new train services will start in new routes depending on the availability of coaches. Over 20,000 coaches have been reserved to set up COVID Health Centre. 300 Shramik trains will run to ferry stranded migrants.