The drawing of the important trains, including the superfast Tiruchi– Chennai Pallavan Express, Madurai–Chennai Vaigai Express, on the platforms other than platform number 1 at Tiruchi Junction for the past few months, is posing difficulty to the commuters, particularly the senior citizens, women, and the sick.
The trains are drawn on platform no. 2 and 3 even when platform no. 1 remains vacant after the arrival of the Chennai–Tiruchi Rockfort Express.
The platform No. 1 on the Tiruchi Junction, one of the busiest and important railway stations in the Southern Railway, has various facilities including pay and use air-conditioned waiting hall, separate free waiting halls for the upper class and second class passengers, adequate seating arrangements, hotels and other refreshment stalls, and bookstalls apart from toilets.
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The whole platform is covered by shelter.
The main advantage enjoyed by the passengers here is that they need not climb any steps.
Important trains including the Rockfort Express, Pallavan Express, Vaigai Express, Guruvayur Express, Tiruchi – Howrah Express used to chug in at platform No. 1 which has excellent amenities.
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What has surprised the commuters is the decision of the station authorities to draw these important trains on platform No. 2 and 3, despite platform No. 1 remaining vacant.The Rockfort Express arrives on platform No. 1 at 5.20 a.m. and after the vacant rakes of this train are taken to the junction yard, the platform remains vacant for the next couple of hours, till the arrival of the Ernakulam–Karaikal Express at 7.35 a.m.
Earlier, after the departure of the Pallavan Express, the Tiruchi–Mayiladuthurai Passenger departs platform No. 1, followed by other trains including the Madurai-Chennai Vaigai Express. The passengers are unhappy with the extension of Pallavan Express to Karaikudi and drawing the train on platform No. 2 or 3 has been like rubbing the salt on the wound.
The Chennai–Madurai Vaigai and the Chennai-Karaikudi Pallavan Express are regularly drawn on platform No. 5 and the Tiruchi–Tirunelveli Intercity Express, yet another popular train, regularly leaves from platform No. 6.
“Drawing and departing all the important trains from other platforms is causing stress to commuters,” says K. Suresh, secretary of the Tiruchi city unit of the Communist Party of India.
Moreover, the battery car in the city was under repair for many days and was pressed back into service only recently.
In the absence of the battery car, the senior citizens and the sick passengers have to suffer for reaching the platforms 2 to 6 through the subway, Mr. Suresh says. These platforms are not fully covered by shelter.
Railway sources cited operational reasons for slotting these trains at platforms other than No. 1.