Passengers attempting to call the Railways’ emergency numbers during train journeys are often met with delays and automated menus, raising concerns about safety. The Railways has listed 139, 112, and 9846200100 as emergency contacts, but responses are inconsistent.

Calls to 139 connect, but passengers must navigate multiple prompts. On Wednesday, callers were first asked to press zero to hear about the Bilaspur train accident. For safety or medical emergencies, callers were instructed to press 1; 2 for other inquiries, 3 for complaints, 4 for emergencies involving women or differently-abled passengers, 5 to report corruption and bribery, and 6 to change the language. After following these instructions, callers are asked to say their preferred language, such as Malayalam, Hindi, or English, but even after doing so, the language often does not change. Many users report that after all these steps, they are unable to reach a person, and the instructions repeat from the beginning.

The 112 number, intended for problems occurring inside trains, connected only rarely. By contrast, the Railway Police Control Room number 9846200100 connected on the first attempt, and the Kerala Police emergency number 100 was reachable immediately. “In any emergency, train passengers can call this number. We will immediately inform the Railway Control Room.” Such assurances provide a sense of confidence and security, particularly for women travellers.

601 men arrested for boarding women’s compartment

The Railways reported that 601 people were arrested this year in the Thiruvananthapuram division for travelling in coaches reserved for women. Of the six individuals involved in crimes against women, 34 were prosecuted, and a total of 7,193 cases were registered against people involved in various offences.

From awareness to cameras

Measures introduced in 2025 to prevent crimes against women passengers include CCTV surveillance and awareness campaigns. This year, officials reached out to 35,406 women passengers and addressed their concerns, highlighting ongoing efforts to make rail travel safer.