High speed trains in Chennai are a fantastic move but what about the issue of jaywalkers?
Posted on: 01/Oct/2022 9:48:38 AM
Even imagining the people crossing the railway tracts with high speed trains approaching them is nerve racking leave alone that happening in reality!!
A 3 coach train was operated at speeds of 140kmph by the Southern Railways or SR on 15th september 2022 between Chennai and Arakkonam. The trial move was highly successful. It was carried out to check if the railway tracks are fit for the semi high speed trains.
Despite the train rushing at such speeds, many people tried to cross the railway tracks in some suburban stations. It must be taken into note that the railways department has deployed its own staff to warn the people against crossing the tracks.
The SR is improving its tracks, signalling facilities and other elements to increase the train speeds, the Vande Bharat trains moving at speeds of 130kmph to 180kmph would be introduced by SR in Chennai in a year or so. It is believed that the infrastructure upgrade would not suit many commuters who use suburban trains on 3 routes like Tiruvallur, Chengalpet and Gummidipoondi.
It is mentioned that the railways must close the level crossings and this would create issues for many people as they would struggle to go to the railway stations if it was carried out without building subways or overbridges etc. Railways department has closed a few level crossings on the Chennai-Tiruvallur route though subway and road overbridge work is not yet completed.
It is shocking to note that there are atleast 7 level crossings between Chennai and Tiruvallur and many other spots and people either walk on the tracks or cross the tracks due to absence of FoB`s.
As per a consumer activist named Sadagopan it was clear that the railways department must speed up the work of constructing subways and overbridges etc. In places like Veppampattu and Pattabiram the construction works have been delayed for 10 years. For more than 4 years, a FoB has been incomplete in places like Avadi and Pattabiram etc.
One important requirement of Vande Bharat trains was that all the level crossings at the stations must be replaced with subways or overbridges. According to the requirement of Vande Bharat trains, identifying the locations where the people trespassed is very important.Express trains might take a long time to run at semi high speeds as many cross the tracks due to lack of discipline plus due to absence of facilities on the route to Central and Egmore combined together.
