Tinsukia: Hundreds of people commuting on trains were left clueless on Tuesday morning regarding arrival and departure times of Avadh-Assam Express and Dibrugarh-Calcutta Express at New Tinsukia station on Tuesday morning.

"I dialled railway enquiry number 131, but it was out of order. So I reached 20 minutes before the scheduled departure of the Avadh-Assam train which was 10.40am. I came to know that the train was yet to start from Dibrugarh," Sweety Chandak, a commuter, told this correspondent.

Chandak said at the enquiry counter of New Tinsukia station, an employee said she would be able to provide information regarding arrival of the trains once they leave Dibrugarh. " I am a lone traveller. Am I supposed to wait at a time when travelling on trains has become unsafe for women?" she asked.

The lady at the front office of the enquiry counter said: "Several passengers are asking about the timings, but we do not have any update. I can only say the expected arrival time once the train departs Dibrugarh station."

"I called the station master, but he said he did not know. The control room gave the same answer. What else can I do?" she asked.

However, at 10.15am, the signage at the station showed arrival time of Avadh-Assam Express at 10.30am, creating confusion among commuters. The scheduled departure of the train from Dibrugarh station is 9.35am, while the scheduled time of its arrival at New Tinsukia station is 10.30am.

"It is the responsibility of the railway authorities to ensure that regular announcements are made at stations informing the expected arrival time of trains, particularly when they are running late. If the officials are in the dark when a train will arrive and how late it is, who is supposed to know this?" another commuter asked.

Sources said the enquiry number 131 is out of order and the enquiry counter at the station was not in a position to inform the arrival and departure times of the two trains causing harassment to commuters. Fifteen minutes before scheduled arrival of the train, passengers were told that they will be informed about the exact time only after the leaves originating station.

Divisional railway manager of Tinsukia railway division Ram Bahadur Rai said, "This is a temporary problem because a goods rail derailed in Lumding."