Citizen Connect: Passengers pile up at MMC railway complex as late-night EMUs run in erratic schedules

For thousands of commuters coming to Chennai Central from as far as Arakkonam on Tiruttani route and Gummidipoondi on Sullurupeta route every day, the late-night EMU trains are the only mode of transport available to reach home. However, they end up helplessly waiting for announcements for their trains at the Moore Market Complex railway station for the past one week as the trains have been running on erratic schedules.

”Avadi-bound nine-car trains that are supposed to start from MMC station at 9.50pm and 10 pm are inordinately delayed every day. The units reach the station 10 to 15 minutes late, which delays 10.10pm train bound to Arakkonam, too.

Usually, the trains will be reasonably occupied as it is not peak hours. However, for the last one week there is no space even to stand in those trains as some of the previous trains are either cancelled or delayed,” said E Velu, a private firm employee from Arakkonam, who usually takes the Arakkonam train at 10.10pm.

“We understand there will be technical snag now and then, because of which the trains are delayed. But off late, it has become a common factor and we have to keep staring at the electronic board for updates. There is no announcement about delayed trains and when we inquire in person, officials do not disclose the reason for delays. Also, even as there are other trains at the stations, they do not operate them and make commuters wait endlessly until the delayed trains reach the stations. If the trains come late, it would take a few more minutes for them to resume the trip, which makes it worse for commuters like us,” said H Vinayak of Pattabiram.

“Recently, since there was no announcement about the next train, commuters grew impatient and boarded a stationed train. However, in the last minute, it was announced that another train stationed three platforms away would start within minutes. So, senior citizens, women with children had to jump tracks to not miss the train. Some people even fell on the tracks in the night hours,” he added.

Regular commuters said that it all started on May 20 when train services towards Avadi were completely hampered since afternoon. For the past six months, the train services were partially stopped claiming to be for maintenance work. Delayed train services, even on working days, put regular commuters at inconvenience.

When contacted, Divisional Railway Manager Nikita Jain was not available for a comment and the railway public relations officer said that the issue has not come to his notice.