CHENNAI: The train’s third AC berth costs roughly the same as that of a flight ticket booked in advance. Considering the high fare, one would expect the Chennai - Madurai Duronto Express to provide a comfortable journey to passengers, but it is apparently not so.
The train is being run with old coaches and some of them have been in operation for about 25 years, the maximum operating period. This has been revealed by Southern Railway in an RTI reply.
Bothered by the poor condition of the train’s rake, R Manivannan, a resident of Kolathur, filed a Right to Information (RTI) aplication seeking details about the train. Although initially denied, Manivannan obtained the details after lodging the first appeal.
In the reply, it was stated that the train had all its coaches manufactured between 1992 and 1999. This is a serious issue, considering the maximum lifespan of coaches is only 25 years, beyond which they are pulled out of service and sent to scrap.
Significantly, all of them are conventional type coaches manufactured by Integral Coach Factory (ICF).
These coaches, involved in several train accidents over the years, have been deemed unsafe and production is to be stopped this year. Railways has initiated a process to completely switch over to modern Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches. Besides enhanced interiors, LHB coaches have advanced safety specifications, including the anti-climbing feature which cuts down high casualties during derailments.
The RTI reply was given in February this year. However, when contacted by Express, a senior railway official confirmed that the train still continued to ply with old coaches.
“The Madurai Duronto has just a single rake, consisting of 1 first tier AC, 3 Second tier AC and 8 Three tier AC compartments. The train is maintained by Chennai division,” he said.
Along with Rajdhani and Shatabdi, Duronto Express is considered a premium train. Most premium trains, including other Durontos, have been allotted LHB coaches. However, Chennai- Madurai Duronto, which is operated twice a week, is an exception.
When asked about the old age of the coaches, the official said, “The life of an ICF coach is 25 years and only after that, it is replaced.However, they are regularly maintained to make sure they are in good condition.”
Asked about the non-provision of LHB coaches, the official said, “Based on factors such as patronage, it is the Railway Board which decides to allocate LHB coaches to specific trains. As of now, there are no plans to introduce LHB in Madurai Duronto.”
For their part, passengers demand that the railway board allot more LHB coaches for Southern Railway. J Soosai Raj, general secretary, Tamil Nadu Southern Districts Train Passengers Association (TNSDTPA) said, “It is disappointing that Madurai Duronto has old coaches. Railways should look at the issue from a service point of view and provide LHB coaches at the earliest.”