Suspension of trains leaves passengers inconvenienced

Neeraj Bagga

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, March 19

Passengers are highly inconvenienced as the Railways has not resumed the services of popular Amritsar-Delhi superfast train even after two months. Now, another train Amritsar–Chandigarh Intercity Express has also been discontinued for the past two days.

A daily passenger, Simar Singh, said he was employed with a private national insurance company in Jalandhar. “Superfast trains are convenient, economical and fast to reach Jalandhar to join the office in time.”

“We understand that some of the trains are discontinued in the foggy season. Now, there has been no such issue but the Railways hasn’t bothered to resume the services of the superfast train,” he rued.

Another daily passenger, Rajesh Ahuja, said, “Since the superfast train doesn’t have sleeper coach and offers chairs, its tickets are comparatively cheaper than other trains. The train has been in service for the past over three decades.”

Shamsher Singh, a city resident, said, “Two days ago, the Amritsar-Chandigarh Intercity was also stopped. It offered a convenient journey to passengers so had been very popular.”

When contacted, station’s officiating director Amrit Singh said, “Presently, there has been a dearth of parking space for trains at the railway station on account of undergoing electronic inter-locking work. The work is at its last stage and expected to be completed next month. The station will function to its full capacity only after that.”

The electronic interlocking will enable the officials to move the trains electrically at the station and will end the age-old manual practice.