An express train on the Egmore-Chengalpet route was halted midway for about 20 minutes after the gatekeeper reportedly dozed off without clearing the signal.
Several commuters were stranded at the level crossing for quite some time between Potheri and Kattankulathur.
Senior railway officials told Deccan Chronicle that the express train bound for Rameswaram, which started late by 10 minutes from Tambaram at 10.15 pm, was halted ahead of level crossing No. 42 after the loco pilot spotted a red signal.
Annoyed after waiting for a long time, the assistant loco pilot and guard went to the level crossing, where they found a man asleep in the gatekeeper’s room. To their surprise, the key that was to be plugged in to clear the signal had not been used, sources said.
Several irate commuters on either side of the level-crossing surrounded the assistant loco pilot, who was perturbed himself.
The train crew informed the stationmaster of Guduvancheri station and moved the train. A gatekeeper from Guduvancheri arrived, cleared the signal and opened the gate.
A departmental probe is on to ascertain the reason for the signal failure and the gate closure. Sources also indicate that the investigation would also reveal if the gatekeeper’s dereliction of duty was the result of alcohol.
In late May, in a similar incident, nearly six trains were delayed by more than an hour after a negligent gatekeeper kept the gate open at level crossing no. 54 between Othivakkam and Chengalpet.