'Are we guinea pigs?' Male passengers slam third female coach in local train

A heated debate is brewing among local train commuters in the Sealdah division, where daily office-goers are raising serious concerns over coach distribution on the new three-phase local trains. While general compartments are overflowing with passengers struggling to stand, let alone breathe, the newly added women’s coaches remain largely vacant, especially during peak hours.

Commuters say they are facing the brunt of this decision. “Are we guinea pigs?” a visibly frustrated office-goer questioned. “Every day, we’re crushed inside these coaches while a few feet away, the women’s compartments are half-empty.” The situation, many say, has become unbearable, especially during the sweltering heat and rush hour chaos.

The Sealdah division had previously extended all trains to 12 coaches—a move welcomed by commuters who, for a while, enjoyed some breathing space. But with the recent addition of one more women’s coach, the balance appears to have tilted. Now, out of 12 coaches, three are reserved for women, and two for vendors, reducing the usable general space to just seven coaches.

Passengers argue that while safety for women is a priority, the current setup seems imbalanced. One commuter pointed out, “Hardly anyone boards vendor coaches. That leaves seven overcrowded general coaches for the majority. It’s simply not working.”

Despite the outcry, Eastern Railway officials stand by the decision. Deeptimoy Dutta, Senior PRO of Eastern Railway, stated, “The number of women commuters has increased, and their safety is important. The additional coaches were added after careful consideration. We may revise the service based on passenger feedback.”

Since late March, new allocations have been implemented across 250 three-phase train sets. Apart from the second coach from both ends, half of the third coach from each side has now been reserved for women as well. While the intention was to ensure women’s safety and encourage travel, the result has sparked a different kind of backlash.