CHENNAI : A demonstration, staged by a section of commuters from the Avadi-Beach section at the Beach railway station on Thursday, brought into focus a problem, which they say they face regularly.

Their grievance was that the Beach-Tiruvanmiyur EMU left before their train arrived. Normally, these commuters alight at Beach and change over tracks to board the Tiruvanmiyur-bound train.

As on previous occasions, the Avadi-Beach train arrived 10 minutes behind schedule and subsequently, they missed the Tiruvanmiyur-bound EMU on Thursday. However, the problem was solved after the authorities, bowing to commuter pressure, operated an MRTS train by extending the Mylapore service up to Tiruvanmiyur.

Railway officials attribute this problem to two factors.

First, the running time of MRTS services between Tiruvanmiyur and Beach had not been revised after introducing six-car rakes in the section.

A senior officer said when three car rakes were operated between Tiruvanmiyur and Beach, the motormen were able to make up for delay by picking up speed. But, the operation of six-car rakes has invariably led to a delay of up to 10 minutes.

Another officer said the operation of goods trains in the morning and evening rush hours from Royapuram would affect EMU services to Beach or from Beach to Avadi, Ambattur or Tiruvallur.

Till a few years ago, there was a rule, which was strictly followed, that no goods service be operated from Royapuram in the morning and evening rush hours.

But, of late, this rule is being flouted to the detriment of EMU services, the officer said.

Perhaps, as one officer involved in operations says, the authorities can keep a six-car rake as a back-up, which can be operated whenever the situation demands.

Moreover, those in charge of scheduling should review the running timing fixed for the MRTS services, keeping in mind the additional load for a six-car rake.

The changed running time schedule can be made flexible to such an extent that any delay at the transfer point can be made up by the motormen operating the MRTS services.

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