To tide over this problem, the railways resorted to a novel measure of two ‘travelling’ gatemen, who will get down, open and close the gate to facilitate the passage of the train in those places. But this has taken a toll on the travel time as it takes more than three hours.

Though the measure has raised several questions, those who travel in the Karaikudi-Pattukootai passenger train have witnessed the gatemen - one travelling in the coach next to the loco and the other in the last compartment (before the guard’s coach) - getting down closing and opening the gates at 35 spots.

Once the train reaches the gate, it stops and the gateman in the first compartment alights and closes the gate and gets into the train. Then the train crosses the level crossing. After this, the train again stops and this time it is the turn of the worker in the last compartment. He gets down, opens the gate and again boards the train. By way of this activity, the train stops at 35 railway gates making it a painful and tedious journey for the passengers as the train takes around three hours to cover a distance of 72.32 km.

Sources from the railways said that each gate should need at least three gatemen and for the 35 gates as many as 105 men have to be appointed but only five persons are appointed as the gatemen which has forced the engineering section staff to travel in the train and carry out the job.