Railways cancels 56 trains for officials' exam, travellers fume

BENGALURU: The South Western Railway's (SWR) decision to cancel 56 trains on Sunday to allow its employees to attend a departmental examination has not gone down well with passengers.
Sources said 56 passenger trains on different routes in Bengaluru division have been cancelled on Sunday. This includes Bengaluru-Whitefield-Bangarpet-Marikuppam-Jolarpettai-Bengaluru (30 trains), Bengaluru-Mysuru-Bengaluru (10), Bengaluru-Hindupur-Dharmavaram-Bengaluru (6), Bengaluru-Tumakuru-Bengaluru (4), Bangarpet-Marikuppam-Bangarpet (4), and Bengaluru-Hosur-Dharmapuri-Bengaluru (2).
However, long-distance passenger trains, including express and mail services, have not been cancelled.
Late on Friday night, SWR announced the cancellation of these services and many commuters questioned the authorities for cancelling so many passenger trains without any planning or prior notice.
Rail enthusiast Abhishek R said: "This is unprecedented. Many people who will be returning to the city on Sunday after the weekend will be affected by the sudden cancellation of train services." Officials confirmed staff shortage as a large number of employees are attending the exam. SWR Bengaluru divisional railway manager Shyam Singh said: "A large number of staff involved in train operations are appearing for general departmental competitive examination, an evaluation for filling up of posts of goods train manager in the operating department. So, cancellation of services was inevitable," Singh stated.