Passengers protest late running, block train movement

Irate passengers today blocked train movement at Sodepur station in Sealdah division for around two hours, protesting delay in EMU train services during peak hours.

An Eastern Railway official said that 15 pairs of EMU locals were cancelled owing to the agitation at Sodepur station in the SealdahBarrackpore section, blocking both up and down lines from 9.52 am.

Thousands of passengers were left stranded owing to the blockade at several stations in the Sealdah division.

The delayed running of trains was due to non-interlocking work at Halisahar station, ER spokesman R N Mahapatra said.

He said that the ER had notified about the work at Halisahar station from April 1 to 3, which was to be completed this morning.

"Its impact on train movement was published in all leading newspapers on March 29 for passengers' information," Mahapatra said.

The work at Halisahar station has been completed, and normal train services resumed at 11.58 am after the blockade was lifted, he said.

Apart from cancellation of the EMU locals, 21 suburban trains and three express trains were detained enroute for 50 minutes each on an averag,e owing to the agitation.