Railway Passengers Face Severe Hardships Due to Delayed Festival Special Trains
The operation of special trains during festive seasons is meant to ease passenger congestion, but recent reports paint a grim picture. Operating in limited numbers, these special trains are running behind schedule by 8 to 10 hours, causing immense frustration among travelers waiting at railway stations. Commuters argue that such delays defeat the very purpose of running special services during peak festival times.
Travelers have taken to social media and grievance portals to express their anger. Incidents of missed connecting trains and salary deductions due to late arrival at workplaces have highlighted the systemic flaws in the current railway operations. Passengers are now questioning the efficiency of the railway administration and demanding strict punctuality.
Key Festival Trains Run Hours Behind Schedule
Several prominent special trains are grappling with massive delays. For instance, the Purnia Court-New Delhi Festival Special Train 05580 is running nearly eight hours behind its scheduled time. Passengers onboard have complained that a journey supposed to take thirty hours is stretching up to forty hours, causing severe physical and mental exhaustion.
Similarly, passengers traveling on the Anand Vihar Terminus festival special and the Purnanchal Express have faced significant setbacks. Workers returning home or heading back to their jobs reported losing a day's wage because their trains failed to reach destinations on time, leaving them with no recourse for the losses incurred.
"This train is taking forty hours instead of thirty to complete the journey, causing immense trouble. Either the railways should fix the schedule or stop running such trains. Who will bear this loss?" — Douram, Railway Passenger
Loco Pilots Express Anger Over New Tail Lamp Directive
While passengers struggle with delayed schedules, railway staff are facing a different kind of pressure. A recent directive from the Railway Board mandates that loco pilots or assistant loco pilots must now install tail lamps on the rear coaches of freight trains operating without a train manager or brake van.
Railway unions have strongly opposed this order, arguing that it places an unfair physical burden on engine drivers. Walking across uneven ballast tracks from the engine to the rear-most freight car poses severe safety risks and compromises the efficiency of train operations, according to employee associations.
Understanding the Significance of Tail Lamps in Railway Operations
Tail lamps placed on the last coach of freight and passenger trains are critical safety indicators. They assure station masters along the route that the rake is complete and no carriages have detached. During foggy weather, these red lights provide advance warning to trailing trains on automatic signaling sections.
Despite their importance, shifting this operational duty onto loco pilots has triggered widespread debate and discontent within the workforce. As the festive rush intensifies, the combination of passenger grievances and employee protests presents a formidable challenge for railway authorities.
