Kochi: The failure of authorities in prompt deployment of crew has resulted in a peak hour passenger train getting late by nearly two hours, posing much difficulty to office-goers among others.
The commuters travelling in the Ernakulam-Alappuzha Passenger (Train No 56379) boarded the train expecting it to proceed from the station at 7.50 am, the scheduled time. However, they were made to wait for nearly two hours. The irked commuters got a reply that no locopilot was available and that the "hunt" for the crew is on.
"Many of us could not reach office on time. Finally the train left the station at 9.45 am and reached Alappuzha at 11.10 am, over one-and-a half hours late," said Chandrahasan Vaduthala, who daily commutes to his workplace in Alappuzha.
However, sources said a mistake from the Chief Traction Loco Controller resulted in the entire episode. The rake of the Shornur-Ernakulam passenger is used to conduct the Alappuzha service and normally the same locopilot is assigned for both services. A locopilot from Ernakulam wing was deployed for the Ernakulam-Shornur service on Wednesday evening.
"The train got late after the rail traffic got disrupted due to a landslide near Chalakudy bridge and reached Shornur at 2 am only. Since the Shornur-Ernakulam train starts at 4 am, the said locopilot didn't get enough rest time. Another locopilot from Palakkad division was deployed," an official said. However, the personnel had Learning Road (LR), (previous experience of tracks) only till Ernakulam and can't technically pilot the train in the Ernakulam-Alappuzha section.
"It's the responsibility of the Chief Traction Loco Controller to make alternate arrangement. However, he failed to take any action. Finally a locopilot of goods train was deployed," they said.
