The absence of coach guidance display boards at Srinagar Railway Station is causing hardship to hundreds of passengers boarding the Srinagar-Jammu Vande Bharat Express following the introduction of a 20-coach train in place of the earlier 8-coach rake.
A coach guidance display board is installed above platforms to inform passengers where their respective coaches will stop, enabling them to wait at the correct location and avoid scrambling to find their designated coaches after the train arrives.
“We are aware of the problem and have already written to the headquarters to install the display system for the convenience of passengers,” officials of the Jammu Rail Division said.
They noted that the train earlier had only eight coaches, making it easier for passengers to access their respective coaches as the train was shorter and carried fewer passengers.
“Now, with the introduction of the 20-coach train, its length has increased significantly, and the number of passengers has more than doubled. We certainly need a coach guidance display system to avoid chaos at the station,” an official said.
Many passengers, particularly tourists visiting Srinagar during the vacation season, have complained of having to run across Platform No. 3 with luggage, children and family members in search of their designated coaches.
“I had four confirmed seats in Coach C-2. Since there was no coach guidance display board at the station, I asked a food and beverage stall vendor for directions. He pointed towards one end of the platform and asked me to wait there. However, when the train arrived, I realised that my coach was at the opposite end. I had to walk all the way across the platform,” said a Delhi-based passenger returning from Srinagar.
He added, “Many other passengers faced similar difficulties and were seen moving from one end of the platform to the other looking for their designated coaches.” Station officials said that small stickers indicating coach numbers have been placed at various locations as a temporary measure. However, passengers often fail to notice them or become confused because two Vande Bharat trains operate from Srinagar, and the coach positions differ in each train.
Passengers travelling in Executive Class also complained of inconvenience.
“The Vande Bharat train on the Jammu-Srinagar route has two Executive Class coaches positioned near the middle of the train. As many passengers are unable to locate their designated coaches on the platform, they often board the nearest coach and then move through the train to reach their assigned seats,” said another passenger.
He added, “As a result, the Executive Class coaches frequently become a thoroughfare for passengers, depriving the comfort and exclusivity expected of a premium travel class.” In 2023, the Railway Ministry adopted a uniform policy titled “Guidelines on Standard Signages at Stations on Indian Railways” to provide a seamless travel experience for passengers.
Under the policy, uniform and well-designed coach guidance display boards are being installed or replaced at stations across the country to improve wayfinding and accessibility for all passengers, including senior citizens and Divyangjan.
