My experience with Southern Railway.

Folks, I have taken a place on rent in Srivatsam, Kalyanapuram near Kumbakonam. This apartment belongs to my lovely friend GMS.

I want to spend lot more time there as I love the place, the people, the staff and the temples around. It's run very efficiently by the promoter, Shri Seetharaman. 

Earlier I used to go by road but in the last few times changed to Cholan express which, if runs on time, takes exactly 5 hours to reach my destination-the only problem is it leaves at 715hrs, Chennai Egmore.

I had some issues with this train - first being the freezing chillness inside, the perpetual delays and also the menace of vendors. (the AC has issue has been addressed though)

I used to tweet to the Rly minister but didnt bother to respond to the reverts.

This time (3rd of this month) I boarded the train at a place called Papanasam. It is a single platform station and fully dug up. If it rains one would get completely drenched as the shades are not continuous. Also its very difficult to lug your baggages. For elderly people and physically challenged, I would not recommend this station. Whoever is the incharge, should work on some time lines and get the platform and station passenger friendly or else the SR should skip this station and start services only after the civil work is completed.

The train was supposed to arrive at 11.16 and I reached the station on time though I knew, thru the app I had installed, the train was running a bit late. From the entrance to my compartment it was a good 10 minutes walk with very little manoeuvring possible. Fortunately it didnt rain the sun was kind....by the time the train arrived it was a good 40 minutes delay. 

I boarded and settled and in 10 minutes time the train reached Kumbakonam. There I started hearing the vendors noise inside the compartments....

I tweeted the railway minister on the perpetual delay of this train (onward too my train was delayed and also on earlier occasions) and  also on the vendors movements. Within 10 minutes the concerned TTE came in to my cabin as he was asked to address the grievance. He was quite concerned and told me the delay was due to track work (doesnt made any sense to me - it must have been with the knowledge of the railways and they should have considered this delay and advanced the train or adviced the passengers on the expected delay)...and also he told me that he would do something about the vendors.

Within few minutes I got a call from Trichy control room asking me whether my grievance on the vendors was addressed. That person (Bagiyaraj) was very apologetic and assured me action would be taken.

At Cuddalore/Villupuram station 3 RPF police came to me and told me the vendors were evicted. 

1) Am not against vendors but there is always a possibility of some bad elements slipping in and creating issues. I told this to the TTE too.

2) The version of the TTE was that many travellers need food which was provided by these vendors...fair enough but isnt it the job of the railways. A train journey which lasts for 7 hours-day time-with so many stops-should have a pantry....this is missing. Also they should have chair cars instead of standard coaches....(Rockfort and Pandiyan are run as Cholan up and down every day hence standard sleepers in all classes)...And travellers should bring their own food as allowing unknown and unregistered vendors is a major risk factor...

But this blog is to appreciate the quick response by the railway authorities in addressing the issue and taking action.

My sincere appreciations to the Railway ministers twitter handle, the southern railway incharge (whom I had ccd) and the very efficient TTE, Bhagyaraj and the RPF.

Well done Indian Railways....way to go.....