Irate passengers block Pondy-Chennai train at Chengalpattu over delay

CHENNAI: Hundreds of passengers on Thursday picketed the Puducherry-Chennai Egmore passenger train at the Chengalpattu station, condemning its delayed operation. They alleged that the Puducherry-Chennai Egmore passenger train has been arriving around 9.20 am every day as against its actual scheduled time of 8.15 am.

Fast locals to Chennai Beach depart from Chengalpattu at 8.10 am, 8.25 and 8.50 am. Of these trains, the 8.10 Thirumalpur fast local will stop only at six stations and reaches  Egmore and Chennai Beach early.
“The 8.10 and 8.25 locals will get congested in a few minutes. So, many prefer to travel in Puducherry-Chennai Egmore passenger which has stoppages at four stations. Since the train regularly arrives late by more than an hour, we can’t reach offices on time,” said K Kamal of Chengalpattu.

Followed by the stir, Chennai-Thirumalpur local, EMU trains, Kacheguda Express and Kakinada Express have been delayed at Chengalpattu. Police arrived and evicted protesters. Besides, all EMU services between Singaperumalkoil and Chengalpattu were delayed by 10 to 15 minutes across the day after the automatic signal system developed a snag.

Officials said around 7.30 am while digging up the earth for laying the third line between Singaperumal and Guduvanchery, workers inadvertently damaged the signal and telecommunication cables connected to signal poles.

“The automatic track circuit signalling system between Chengalpattu and Singaperumalkoil has failed. Signals for EMU train operation were cleared manually. Trains were detained for one or two minutes,” said a senior official.

Damaged
While digging up the earth for laying a line, workers inadvertently damaged the signal and telecommunication cables