‘Bus trip’ for train passengers from Mangalore to Surathkal

DHNS

• Work on landslip area between Thokur and Padil continues on war-footing

Mangalore, 29 June 2010: Thousands of north bound train passengers (who arrived from Kerala) are forced to take a bus trip from Mangalore to Surathkal following the landslip between Padil and Thokur railway stations. 

 
A few trains are diverted via Hassan route, but if the trains has more than 18 bogies, then they can not ply on the route (ghat section) as per the railway norms.

While many a passengers co-operate with the Railways, a few of them were found arguing with the railway staff for not informing them in advance about the ‘bus trip’ for train passengers in Mangalore. An official press release issued by Southern Railways states that on June 29 alone, a total of 7,484 passengers were transshipped by deploying 142 buses between Mangalore and Surathkal.

A group of passengers, some of them belonging to Indian Army, who arrived from Kerala on Ernakulam - Jaipur Express on Tuesday morning staged a protest in Mangalore railway station. “Though the train was scheduled to leave at 7 am, it left at 12 noon at Ernakulam. Later, the train was stopped at Shornur for several hours. When it reached Mangalore, we have been asked to take a bus arranged by the Railways to Surathkal. What is this?” said Santhosh, an irate passenger, who had booked ticket from Ernakulam to Jaipur.

However, some passengers were seen forcing the Railways to allow the train to ply via Hassan route.

“If the train has more than 18 bogies, then it will not get permission to ply on Hassan route as it is a ghat section,” an official said and added that “it is very difficult to convince the passengers.”

Meanwhile, many a passengers quietly boarded the buses arranged by the Railways and continued their journey to Surathkal where they boarded the respective trains.

On the other hand, the passengers from Mangalore and nearby area who were aware of the re-scheduled train services through media, made their own arrangement to go to Surathkal to board the trains.

An official at the railway station said that the passengers of Duranto Express on Monday night co-operated with the Railways and there was no problem from any passenger.

If the restoration work, which has been going on warfooting, can not be completed by Wednesday morning, then the ongoing arrangement will be continued to Wednesday too.

To a query, a railway official at Palakkad division said that the Railways is trying their level best not to cancel any trains. “We are making all arrangements to send the train in the possible routes,” he said.