Pune: The festive season in Pune has been marred by significant train delays, with both the Pune-Ernakulam Poorna Express and the Pune-Howrah Azad Hind Express departing several hours later than scheduled.

This has caused serious inconvenience to passengers, many of whom were left stranded at the Pune railway station without adequate facilities to wait comfortably.

The Pune-Ernakulam Express, originally scheduled to depart at 10:15 PM on Saturday (September 14) night, finally left the station at 3:30 AM on Sunday (September 15). The delay was due to the late arrival of the train's rake from its previous journey.

Passengers, many of whom had booked tickets to travel for the festive season, expressed frustration at the long wait and lack of timely communication from railway authorities.

Similarly, the Pune-Howrah Azad Hind Express, which was supposed to depart at 6:35 PM on Saturday, only started its journey at 12:15 AM past midnight. This additional five and a half-hour delay left passengers fatigued and distressed, especially those traveling with children and elderly family members.

Over the past few days, several trains leaving from Pune railway station have been consistently delayed, a pattern that has left passengers disgruntled. One of the primary reasons for the delays is the late arrival of train rakes to Pune, which affects the schedule of onward journeys.

The waiting passengers also faced hardships due to the inadequate seating and waiting facilities at the station. With nowhere to sit, many were forced to wait for hours on their feet or in uncomfortable positions.

Several passengers voiced their concerns, urging railway authorities to improve the facilities and communication at the station, especially during the festival season when the number of travelers is higher than usual.