A flash strike by loco running staff affiliated to Southern Railway Mazdoor Union on Thursday midnight led to detention of an express train in Madurai.

According to a railway source, two loco pilots working on goods trains were asked to continue their work even after they had worked for the 9.30 hours, 30 minutes more than the mandatory 9 hours, on Thursday evening.

When they refused to work, they were placed under suspension.

“Only last week the union had entered into an understanding with the divisional administration that utilisation of crew working for more than nine hours should be stopped,” a union leader said.

Union leaders assembled at the crew booking office late in the night and other loco pilots reported sick and sought medical leave. However, after a prolonged delay for talks, Train No 22668 Coimbatore-Nagercoil express was detained for more than 30 minutes.

The strike was withdrawn only after the suspension order of the loco pilots was revoked.