Southern Railway Ramps Up Services with Summer Special Trains In Lieu of High Demand
Every year, the summer season witnesses a significant increase in passenger traffic on Indian railways, with people travelling for vacations, family visits, and other purposes.
Chennai, Tamil Nadu: In response to the surge in passenger traffic during the summer season, the Southern Railway has announced the operation of additional special trains to cater to the high demand. M. Senthamil Selvan, the Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) of Southern Railway, stated, “The number of trains we are operating is more as the passenger influx in the stations is very high. So we need to take some special measures.”
The Southern Railway has introduced weekly special trains from Chennai Egmore to Tirunelveli (Nellai) and Nagercoil for the months of April and May. The train to Tirunelveli departs from Chennai Egmore on Thursdays at 6:45 pm and reaches its destination at 8:30 am the next day. The return route departs at 3 pm on Fridays and arrives back at Egmore at 7 am the following day. Similarly, superfast special trains are also running between Chennai and Nagercoil on Sundays and Mondays.
Southern Railway: Tackling Peak Season Challenges
One of the major challenges faced by the Southern Railway during this peak season is the issue of passengers with waiting-listed or unreserved tickets entering reserved coaches, causing inconvenience to bona fide passengers with confirmed reservations. To address this problem, a specialised team has been created. Selvan explained, “If anybody is complaining on 139 or to a TT based on the call, we are checking and controlling them.”
Ensuring Availability and Fair Pricing of Essentials
In collaboration with the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC), the Southern Railway is also focusing on ensuring the availability of essential items like bottled water, which is in high demand during the summer. Selvan assured, “We ensure that the availability of water is properly stocked and sold at the right price, not overpriced due to the demand. We are monitoring this till the summer.”
Railway Operations and Summer Rush
Every year, the summer season witnesses a significant increase in passenger traffic on Indian railways, with people travelling for vacations, family visits, and other purposes. To accommodate this surge in demand, railway authorities often introduce special trains and take additional measures to ensure smooth operations and passenger comfort.
The Southern Railway, one of the 18 railway zones in India, covers the southern states of Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Puducherry, and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. With its headquarters in Chennai, the Southern Railway plays a crucial role in connecting major cities and towns in the region, especially during peak travel seasons like summer.
