Let’s dispel the heat over seats in local trains

Of the four AC trains, CR has introduced three on the main, trans-harbour and harbour lines, respectively. File pic

A fight over seats on a Central Railway AC local recently has led to the demand for more such services. With 60 air-conditioned train trips daily, CR Mumbai now runs the highest number of AC local trains in any zone of the Indian Railways. A report in this paper stated that trouble started after a few commuters from Dombivli took a train to Kalyan so that they could block their seats when the train departed for CSMT. This led to an argument between the Kalyan and Dombivli commuters and it quickly devolved into a scuffle.

In the report, a user of the service is quoted as saying that it did not look good that commuters on an AC local should have to fight like this. After the argument and fight, the police came on board and noted down the contact numbers of the commuters. Commuters from Dombivli have been complaining since their much-patronised 7.47 am AC Dombivli CSMT slow local was cancelled after the new Thane-Diva lines were launched.

We have coined a new phrase especially for Mumbai where trains are our lifeline, rail rage to add to road rage. Verbal spats and bitterness over booking of seats, vandalism inside train bogeys, physical pushing and shoving, our trains and platforms seem to be a free for all for passengers.

We hope the new normal means an end to these problems. A new, peaceful way of commuting. Putting dialogue over discussion, dispelling heat over seats is the way to go.

AC locals are a new, important arm for the Railways. Authorities can take cognisance of commuter grievances that are valid. These services cannot become the new battleground for those who feel hard done by. Let us travel in dignity and we will certainly feel the psychological benefits of that through the entire working day.