The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : Chaos at Central station

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Friday, Aug 08, 2008
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Chaos at Central station

Staff Reporter

Chennai: The sudden postponement of the departure timing of Cheran Express (Chennai – Coimbatore) caused chaos at the Central Railway Station on Thursday night.

The train departure, scheduled at 10.30 p.m., was deferred to 5.30 a.m. on Friday, leaving hundreds of passengers stranded . Railway officials said the change was owing to an unexpected delay in the arrival of Navjeevan Express (from Ahmedabad), which is the rake used as Cheran Express. Passengers were angry because of lack of prior intimation and confused about the refund procedures. K. Yuvaraj and T. Mahesh, who were scheduled to attend an interview at Coimbatore, decided to cancel their onward and return tickets but found that 25 per cent of the charges would be deducted on their return ticket.

“For no fault of ours, we end up paying,” said Mr. Yuvaraj. Another passenger who had booked his ticket on the Internet was asked to return later for cancellation as the IRCTC counter did not work 24 hours. The agitated passengers crowded around the Deputy Station Manager’s office demanding night accommodation.

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