Southern Railway runs 132 special trains, deploys extra RPF personnel to manage Diwali rush

Southern Railway operated 132 special trains and added extra coaches to 22 Mail and Express services to manage the rise in passenger traffic during the Diwali festive season.

The special services, which included 62 trains run by other railway zones, collectively made 207 trips to meet the additional travel demand, according to a statement issued on Friday. Eight unreserved Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) services were also introduced to accommodate more passengers.

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The trains linked Chennai with key destinations such as Madurai, Tirunelveli, Kanniyakumari and Rameswaram, besides Thiruvananthapuram, Mumbai, New Delhi and Bengaluru, among other cities.

Southern Railway also strengthened security and passenger assistance arrangements at major stations in Chennai. An additional 180 Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel, along with 25 retired RPF staff, were deployed to manage crowds.

Volunteers from the National Service Scheme and St John Ambulance, along with Government Railway Police personnel, were also engaged to assist passengers and ensure security.

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The railway authorities put in place CCTV surveillance, queue management systems and additional ticket booking counters at major stations. Special help desks were also opened to guide passengers.

Security escorts were deployed on long-distance trains, with particular focus on ensuring the safety of women passengers, the statement said.