[1]Thousands of commuters were put to hardship as the train services between Tambaram and Beach were disrupted for over an hour following a failure in the electric power transformer in Kodambakkam.
Reportedly, the electric power transformer in Kodambakkam failed around 8.10 am leading to signal failure between St Thomas Mount and Nungambakam stations till 9.30 am. As a result, several trains were stranded on tracks affecting the services between Tambaram and Beach stations.
Though the railways made alternative arrangements by facilitating the express track for suburban trains, it failed to announce the arrangements to the stranded passengers. Heated arguments occurred between the staff at the ticket counter and the passengers at many stations.
“I had to wait for about 45 minutes in a train at platform one St Thomas Mount. Later, a co-passenger told me to board another train on third platform,” said S. Annapoorni, a passenger who missed two trains owing to heavy rush.
Suburban trains were operated on the main line track until 10.30 am. However, a team of engineers from Egmore station reached the spot and fixed the fault. Trains services were restored completely after 10.30 am. Several attempts top reach the railway officials proved futile.
In a similar incident, train services between Chengalpet and Othivakkam stations were disrupted for over an hour after the driver of an express train noticed a crack on the track near Othivakkam.
According to railway sources, when the Sethu Express train was proceeding towards Othivakkam, the alert driver noticed a crack on the track and brought the train to a halt.
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[1] http://archive.asianage.com/train24jpgcropdisplayjpg-133