India, April 24 -- Sir,

I and my wife, senior citizens, are regular commuters to Chennai by Train No.16021/16022, Kaveri Express. Most passengers on this train travel to Chennai for work during the day and return the same night.

The train continues to run with ageing coaches, with worn-out windows, dirty wash basins and unhygienic, stinking toilets, often with inadequate water supply and leaking taps. It has nearly 9 to 10 stoppages and every halt and restart results in a strong jerk with a screeching sound, leading to sleeplessness, especially for passengers in non-AC sleeper coaches.

The authorities should prioritise making night travel more comfortable rather than treating it merely as a mode of transport. While the Railways have em...