RailEnquiry

BANGALORE: It might look very simple and go unnoticed that on July 26, two trains—Vasco-Da-Gama—Chennai Experss and Vasco-Da-Gama—New Delhi were stopped at Kulem station for nearly half an hour, to give way for rail big wigs to take a jolly ride on the tracks. Passengers in both these trains had no idea why the delay because there were no announcements made at the platforms.Kulem is the next station after Vasco-Da-Gama station in Goa. But loco-staff of the division highlighted this issue with the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) that two South Western Railway worker federation leaders embarked on a jolly ride between Castle Rock and Kulem on a motor trolley which is otherwise meant for inspection of tracks.Their jolly ride was organized by the additional divisional engineer based at Castle Rock and one of his juniors wished to please the union leaders had misused the vehicle, saying that it would be an inspection for special track works undertaken in this line. While there were no special track works undertaken in this line at all.AILRSA members vehemently criticized the misuse of the motor trolley for a joy ride and also violating the safety norms for the trolley occupants. They also criticized the railway divisional authorities for throwing up safety on one hand and causing inconvenience to passengers and on the other hand, suspending the loco pilots of the Hampi Express which derailed at Penukonda on May 22. They demanded that the junior engineer be immediately suspended. While the Chennai bound train was delayed by 35 minutes, the Delhi bound train was halted for 20 minutes.