Southern Railway Union Demands Revocation of Goods Train Order in Madurai

Loco running staff of the Southern Railway Mazdoor Union held a demonstration in Madurai on October 22, 2026. Ravi Shankar presided over the protest, which demanded the revocation of a railway order allowing goods trains to run without a train manager, citing safety concerns. Rafi, a union secretary, also addressed the protesters, noting that assistant loco pilots were forced to carry fog safety devices in the absence of managers.

The union is pressing for changes to operational safety and working conditions within the Madurai Division of the Southern Railway. They also demanded that goods train crews be required to return to headquarters within 48 hours after duty.