Discontinued passenger trains hits people from villages
Hyderabad: In a move that has unsettled many people from villages, the long-standing passenger train service — known for its pocket-friendly fares and vital connectivity between smaller villages and urban centres — has been largely discontinued. Traditionally, these trains have provided an affordable travel option for agricultural workers, enabling them to commute from their native villages to towns and cities with ease.
Before the nationwide lockdown in 2020, South Central Railways operated 64 passenger trains, ensuring that even the smallest stations were linked to the national network. However, after the phased resumption of train services, the railways have refrained from reinstating these services. Instead, express trains have been introduced on several of the old routes, with stops at select small stations. At these stations, local villagers are being employed on a commission basis to manage ticket sales, earning a small percentage for every ticket issued.
The shift in service has had profound effects on daily commuters. Many employees who once relied on these affordable passenger trains for long-distance travel have been forced to relocate closer to their workplaces.
Srinivas Reddy, a regular traveller between regions such as Vijayawada-Khammam-Dornakal and Warangal-Bellampally-Ramagundam, explained, “The discontinuation of passenger trains changed the lives of several people who travel each day for their jobs. They shifted their homes as private road travel will be costing more. As they travelled, they had to pay rents and even their children’s schools were affected.”
Railway analyst Shiva Kumar provided insight into the rationale behind the decision, stating, “The Railway is now urban centralised and driven by revenue motives. These are the trains mostly used by the marginalised sections of society. There is a need to bring back these passenger trains to serve the downtrodden, as their fares are less than half of the regular express train fare.”
