New Delhi, Nov 20 (IANS) 'Please, don't disturb trains,' Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed to Maoists Friday, a day after the rebels blew up track in Jharkhand derailing a passenger train and leaving a man dead.

Speaking to reporters in the parliament complex, Banerjee said that the railways were 'a passenger friendly service', catering mainly to the poor.

Nearly 1.8 million people travel by trains daily in India.

The minister quickly added that the security of passengers was a state subject and the railways could do little about it.

'The security is a concern of the state government. The Government Railway Police is also looked after by state governments. We only pay their 50 percent salaries,' she said.