New train to Chennai has a short journey

BENGALURU: Just four days after the South Western Railway Zone created a special train for Chennai-bound passengers from Bengaluru, it has withdrawn it from service. This rake will now be sent to replace the train damaged in the derailment suffered on November 24.

In the accident that took place at Manikpur railway station in Uttar Pradesh, three passengers lost their lives and 13 out of 24 coaches of the Vasco Da Gama Express suffered extensive damages.An emergency replacement was required for the Vasco train. “We have been asked by our Headquarters (Hubballi) to send the new ‘Scratch rake’ (train created using available spares) to replace it. So, we sent it yesterday,” said a top railway official of the Bangalore Railway Division.Deputy General Manager of SWR, E Vijaya, confirmed that the ‘Scratch rake’ was taken yesterday from the Bengaluru Division to be converted into the Vasco Da Gama Express.  

The new rake was introduced only on November 25 and its run from Bengaluru came to a halt of November 29. “The original plan was to be use it temporarily for 1.5 months until severe winter conditions disappear from North India,” a top railway official said. “Heavy fog made the Karnataka Express run late during winters. It is converted into Chennai Mail after it reaches Krantivira Sangolli Railway station. So, to remove the dependence on the Karnataka Express to run the Chennai train, we created a special train,” he added.

The train was sent to Hubballi on Wednesday. “Since the Karnataka Express was only slightly delayed on Wednesday, it was converted into the Chennai Mail causing no major disruption in the journey of passengers,” a top source said.  

The Karnataka Express was running very late on Thursday from New Delhi. As has been the norm of late, Railways tweeted that the Chennai Mail that was scheduled to depart at 10.40 pm on Thursday will depart only at 5 am on Friday. The moment the news was made public, irate users of the train took to Twitter to give vent to their anger. However, after knowing the reasons for the rake being taken away, a few sent their apologies too.