Afternoon Shatabdi fails to attract passengers

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, February 12

Despite the closure of the Chandigarh International Airport due to runway repairs, trains failed to attract passengers from the city.

As many as 95 seats remained cancelled in the AC chair car, while 25 executive class seats remained vacant on the afternoon Shatabdi train, here today. However, the occupancy remained full in the morning Shatabdi.

Giving details, Station Superintendent TP Singh said the seats remained vacant both in chair car as well as in executive class.

Sources in the Railways stated that a majority of passengers preferred to travel by morning Shatabdi, instead of the afternoon Shatabdi.

"The waiting list of morning Shatabdi is swelling whereas passengers have not shown interest in traveling bt afternoon Shatabdi," said sources. They said Haryana Roadways did not introduce any additional buses for ferrying the passengers to Delhi.

The railway authorities had decided to add two additional coaches during the closure of the Chandigarh International Airport from February 12 to 26.

Division Railway Manager Dinesh Sharma said two additional coaches were added in the afternoon Shatabdi train number 12045 and 12046. The railway authorities observed that additional coaches would be required in the wake of the closure of the airport. DRM had maintained that extra coaches could not be added on the morning Shatabdi due to technical reasons.