6:07 PM
By Sridhar Vivan, Bangalore Mirror Bureau | Sep 29, 2015,
It is common for us to wait for trains to arrive at the station. However, on Monday, the train was at the platform, with its engine switched on and passengers on board, but the train didn't move an inch as the entire railway staff at Kolar railway station were waiting for one man — the loco pilot!
The DEMU train between Kolar and Bengaluru Cantonment railway station is the preferred train for office-goers who travel from the border district headquarters to Bengaluru every day.
The train was supposed to leave Kolar station at 7.15 am but stayed on the same platform till 8.40 am.
Eyewitnesses told Mirror that usually technicians usually switch the train on half an hour before its departure. This is followed by the arrival of the loco pilot. But on Monday the loco pilot failed to turn up. Though the station master made desperate calls to the loco pilot, his mobile phone was switched off.
Finally, with no other option, an SOS was sent to nearby Bangarpet railway station (30 kilometres from Kolar) for arranging an alternative loco pilot, who reached at the venue pretty and the train could start only at around 8.40 am. Srinath K, a daily commuter, said, "If these incidents are repeated, then people may desert trains and railways would have to cancel this train owing to no passengers."
However, the railway officials argued that the loco pilot had not turned up to work due to "lack of rest". "There is no rest room facility at Kolar railway station. As this problem has not been addressed, we are facing issues," said Kolar station master, Ambareesh.
It is common for us to wait for trains to arrive at the station. However, on Monday, the train was at the platform, with its engine switched on and passengers on board, but the train didn't move an inch as the entire railway staff at Kolar railway station were waiting for one man — the loco pilot!
The DEMU train between Kolar and Bengaluru Cantonment railway station is the preferred train for office-goers who travel from the border district headquarters to Bengaluru every day.
The train was supposed to leave Kolar station at 7.15 am but stayed on the same platform till 8.40 am.
Eyewitnesses told Mirror that usually technicians usually switch the train on half an hour before its departure. This is followed by the arrival of the loco pilot. But on Monday the loco pilot failed to turn up. Though the station master made desperate calls to the loco pilot, his mobile phone was switched off.
Finally, with no other option, an SOS was sent to nearby Bangarpet railway station (30 kilometres from Kolar) for arranging an alternative loco pilot, who reached at the venue pretty and the train could start only at around 8.40 am. Srinath K, a daily commuter, said, "If these incidents are repeated, then people may desert trains and railways would have to cancel this train owing to no passengers."
However, the railway officials argued that the loco pilot had not turned up to work due to "lack of rest". "There is no rest room facility at Kolar railway station. As this problem has not been addressed, we are facing issues," said Kolar station master, Ambareesh.
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