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NT Bureau
Chennai, July 20:

        Now, EMU commuters blocking train in protest is becoming routine. Ever since the introduction of the new time-table on 1 July, commuters in the suburban section of Chennai Central - Tiruvallur and Chennai Beach - Tiruvallur to Arakkonam/Tiruttani sections have been demanding restoration of the old train timings.

        A flash sit-in protest last evening by commuters at the Beach Railway Station blocking Arakkonam and Tiruttani bound trains, services in the Beach - Tambaram and Beach - Mylapore/Thiruvanmiyur sections came to a standstill.

        Commuters say that under the new time-table, trains were either cancelled or rescheduled leading to confusion and break in the routine of commuters, who have got used to the previous timings.

        Bala Ganesh, a commuter bound to Tiruvallur, said that in spite of repeated protests, the railway officials were not addressing the problems faced by the commuters.

        Another commuter to Arakkonam, Leo Joseph said if the railways were running the trains to serve passengers, then why were they not heeding to the request to restore the old time- table.

        The main grievance of the protestors was removal of Beach - Tiruttani Fast Service which was operated at 6.20 pm, extension of the Melmaruvathur-Arakkonam service to Tiruttani, which would leave the station at 6.20 pm as against 6 pm as per the old timings and rescheduling of the Beach-Tiruvallur timing from 5.40 pm to 5.50 pm.

        The slogan-raising protestors were pacified by the officials and the service resumed after hours of delay.

        Meanwhile trains to service to Tambaram was operated from the Park station and services to Arakkonam and Tiruvallur from the Washermenpet Railway Station.