The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Two empty coaches derail at Central station, trains cancelled, passengers left confused

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Monday, Feb 25, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Two empty coaches derail at Central station, trains cancelled, passengers left confused

Deepa H. Ramakrishnan

Several trains were diverted to Egmore station and as a result, chaos prevailed

— PHOTO: V.GANESAN

In disorder: The Egmore Railway Station, which was crowded with passengers late on Sunday, owing to re-scheduling of trains.

CHENNAI: Chaos reigned at the Egmore Railway Station on Sunday evening as several trains were diverted from the Chennai Central Station due to derailment of two empty coaches of Jaipur Express at the Central Station’s yard.

Several passengers were put through a harrowing experience with Southern Railway cancelling four trains, diverting six trains to Egmore and three trains leaving Egmore instead of Central Station and one leaving the Perambur station.

Passengers V. S. Rao and Anup Deo, who went to Central Station and came to Egmore, said no proper information was coming in from the enquiry counter or policemen who were on duty. The enquiry counter was packed to the maximum and people were confused as to where they could get correct information.

People who had come to receive relatives and friends were also confused about where to go and cars remained at the parking lots for hours on end. Additional police and Railway Protection Force personnel had been posted at the station to regulate the heavy rush.

Ashok. D, a member of a large group of passengers, who were to take the Howrah Mail, said that he had called up 135 service of the Railways and found out about the diversion to Egmore and had come in straight.

The derailment happened at 4.25 p.m. when the empty rake was coming into the station and breakdown staff were working till late Sunday. Official sources said that services were expected to be restored by 11.30 p.m. An enquiry would be held later to ascertain the cause of the derailment, they added.

The trains that were cancelled are Yelagiri Express, Bangalore Shatabdi, Sarcar Express and Bangalore Special train. Those that were diverted to Egmore are Dadar Express, Navjeevan, Brindavan Express, Kovai Express and Mysore Shatabdi Express. The trains that originated from Egmore were Mumbai Mail, Cheran Express and Howrah Mail.

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