Title - Absence of sleeper coaches irks passengers

The passengers created a furore at the Ernakulam Junction Station when the Netravati Express arrived without two sleeper coaches on Thursday.The agitated passengers pulled the chord that activates the train’s emergency brakes as it  started journey. According to the passengers, the Railways had replaced the coaches with old, worn out general coaches. Also, an AC coach was replaced with a sleeper coach.“We had booked our reservations three months in advance. However, we are asked to make do with whatever coaches available. This is utter cruelty on the part of the Railways towards the passengers. We deserve to get a refund in this case,” said a passenger.The passengers then filed a case with the Railway police and approached the Ernakulam Area Manager’s office to file their complaint. However, in spite of the furore, the passengers were asked to avail of the available coaches as the same could not be replaced at Ernakulam. “We are helpless whenever such situations arise. We are forced to attach worn out or even the general compAartment coaches because the coaches do not arrive from Chennai at the right time,” said a senior Railways official. According to the passengers, the  frequency of such incidents have increased during the past few months.  “How can you travel in a general class compartment while you have actually booked your ticket for a sleeper or an AC class,” said  T Mathew, a passenger.

In many cases, AC coaches are being replaced by sleeper compartments, which in turn are being replaced by the general compartments.