‘Double-decker AC trains’ schedule behind failure’

Railway officials fear that the relaunched double-decker air-conditioned Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) to Madgaon train is being poorly received by passengers due to bad scheduling, since trains like the Mandovi Express, Janshatabdi Express and the Diva-Sawantwadi passenger train are scheduled around the same time.

The double-decker has been scheduled for departure at 5.30 am on every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday; the Mandovi Express departs from Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) from 7.10 am, the Janshtabdi Express departs from Dadar at 5.25 am and the Diva-Sawantwadi passenger train departs from Diva at 6.20 am and halts at Panvel at 7 am. Officials, requesting anonymity, have said that as a result of the scheduling the double-decker has not been given a fighting chance, with passengers preferring the other trains due to their familiarity with them.

“We are basically killing any chances that the double-decker has in terms of gaining any favour amongst passenger because so many other options have been given in the same timeframe, and they (passengers) are familiar with these trains as well. Launching a new train is always an issue because we don’t know how the passenger will respond to it and whether the tickets will be sold, so you slot these trains when no other trains available,” said the official.

Many commuters have been asking for a late evening train so that they can catch it after work on the weekends. “For example, if the train is run in the afternoon or late evening, like about 8.00 pm, then people will take it on the weekend as they prefer to travel in the night after work and arrive in 10 to 12 hours in the Konkan,” added the official.

The air-conditioned train has been launched for the second time as it had been removed from services earlier due a dismal response in March 2015. It was re-introduced by Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu in the first week of December in the same year.