I booked a ticket for journey from Arakkonam to Coimbatore on 18/01/2011 by train no 12673 (Cheran Express). The train arrived at 11.08 p.m and my coach was S1(seat No17 and 18)While trying to alight the train which stops there for only 2 minutes I found the doors of the coach were bolted inside and could not open. I am a senior citizen. My wife tapped the windows of the next S2 coach and a good fellow woke up and opened the door and we hurriedly entered the coach and passed on to S1. Is it not duty of the TTE of S1 coach to keep open the door who only knows who will be alighting that coach at Arakkonam? What a tension! I advice fellow travelers not to book from Arakkonam to Coimbatore in Cheran Express which arrives at an odd hour with the lethargic attitude of TTEs. In addition...
more... to this two travelers without any reservation were sitting in my reserved berth and when questioned, quoted the TTE's support. They sat at the edge of our berth and traveled along with us and I don't where they got down.Horrible experience!