Low occupancy helps train passengers keep physical distance

Low occupancy helps train passengers keep physical distance

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  02.06.2020

Inter-city train services resumed in a small way across Tamil Nadu on Monday with eight trains running half empty. The bar on trains to Chennai remains.

Occupancy was around 50% or less on most of the trains. Though e-pass was compulsory, special desks at railway stations helped passengers obtain them for their further travel by road.

In Coimbatore, people started to reach the station much earlier than the stipulated 90 minutes before departure.

While the Coimbatore-Katpadi train’s air-conditioned coach was nearly empty, the AC coach on Jan Shatabdi to Mayiladuthurai had occupants. Of the 183 people expected to board the Katpadi train, only 117 turned up. The Shatabdi saw 69% of its seats being booked, but actual occupancy numbers were less.

“Many passengers who booked did not turn up because of confusion over e-passes. However, we are allowing those without e-passes to travel after taking down their addresses,” said Coimbatore deputy station manager, commercial, Chitti Babu.

With low occupancy, it was easy for passengers to maintain social distancing. While families sat next to each other, the row in front of them was left empty. Some travelling alone managed to get a whole row for themselves.

Similar was the situation at Madurai and Trichy. On the first trip, the Trichy-Nagercoil Superfast daily special had 227 passengers, an occupancy of only 35%, while around 50passengers boarded the Madurai-Villupuram Intercity Superfast special at Trichy. The Coimbatore to Mayiladuthurai special train arrived at Trichy at 11.05 am, with around 500passengers. On the return journey, 410 boarded at Trichy junction.

The Madurai-Villupuram intercity express had only 22% occupancy because a majority of the passengers on the route are usually headed to Chennai. The Coimbatore-Mayiladuthurai Express witnessed 39% occupancy.

Though, the Madurai district administration had arranged epasses instantly for rail passengers, rail users have appealed to the state government to revoke the order mandating e-passes as all the trains are travelling across various zones.

J Michael, 50, said no one asked him for an e-pass when he boarded the train at Coimbatore. “After arriving at the Trichy junction railway authorities asked me to produce it. But there was a special desk at the station where I got a pass to proceed by bus to my village,” he said.