Protest over railway scheduling disruptions brings premium train to standstill for 30 minutes
Bathinda, Punjab — A group of approximately 100 passengers forcibly stopped the Vande Bharat Express at Goniana Mandi railway station in Bathinda on Tuesday, bringing the premium train service to a half-hour standstill. The incident sparked concerns about commuter frustrations with the railway department’s scheduling priorities and highlighted tensions between modernization efforts and the needs of regular travellers.
What Triggered the Protest
The protestors, primarily passengers who regularly travel on the Firozpur-Bathinda train service, took action against what they view as systematic delays caused by the introduction of the Vande Bharat Express. According to reports, the railway department’s scheduling adjustments to accommodate the premium train service have consistently delayed conventional trains, causing significant inconvenience to commuters dependent on these services.
“We have no objection to the Vande Bharat train itself,” the protestors reportedly stated, “but the railway department is regularly delaying our trains due to this service. We are repeatedly delayed in reaching our destinations.”
The Incident
The situation escalated on Tuesday when frustrated passengers took matters into their own hands, physically stopping the Vande Bharat Express as it passed through Goniana Mandi station. The train remained stranded at the platform for over 30 minutes as chaos ensued at the station, creating a tense standoff between protestors and railway personnel.
Swift Police Response
Upon receiving information about the incident, Bhucho DSP Preetpal Singh arrived at the scene with a police team. After engaging in discussions with the protestors and understanding their grievances, the DSP and railway officials successfully negotiated the train’s departure.
“We spoke with the people involved and after hearing their concerns, allowed the train to proceed,” DSP Singh stated.
Legal Action Initiated
Despite the peaceful resolution, the Kotakpura Railway Police have filed a preliminary case against approximately 100 unidentified individuals involved in the incident. SI Kuldeep Kumar of the Railway Police Force indicated that authorities have obtained video footage of the protest and will use it to identify and formally name the accused in the case.
“We are identifying the individuals based on the video evidence. Once identified, they will be named in the FIR and further action will be taken as per law,” Kumar said.
Broader Implications
The incident reflects growing tensions between India’s railway modernization ambitions and the real-world impact on existing commuter services. While premium services like the Vande Bharat Express represent technological advancement and improved connectivity for intercity travel, their implementation has raised questions about whether adequate consideration is given to the scheduling needs of conventional trains that serve a larger portion of the traveling population.
Railway officials have yet to comment on the protestors’ allegations regarding the delays to conventional services or outline any measures to address the scheduling concerns raised during the incident.
The train was eventually allowed to proceed after the intervention of police and railway authorities, marking the end of the standoff.
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