Train trouble: Gruelling 8-hour trip for Deccan Queen passengers

Passengers of the Deccan Queen who expected to reach Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) at 10.25am, ended up reaching the station only at 3pm on Wednesday, resulting in a commute time of nearly eight hours.

Madhuri Pande an office-going passenger from Pune to Mumbai told DNA, “It was a terrible journey. The air-conditioning system stopped working after four to five hours and passengers had no option but to sit and wait.”

“Due to the rush, men had also entered into the ladies compartment. The pantry car ran out of food items. The train usually halts at select stations, but it stopped at every station to clear the rush, causing a massive delay,” added Pande.

Other passengers were stranded at railway platforms after both the Sinhagad Express and Pragati Express that ply between Pune and Mumbai were cancelled.

Hemant Tapale, executive president of the Pune-Mumbai Railway Pravasi Sangh, said, “No announcements were made about cancellation of trains at Pune station. Passengers kept coming to the stations only to find that the trains were cancelled or delayed. Over 5,000 passengers, including office-goers and businessmen, could not reach Mumbai on Wednesday.