KOCHI: Travelling on board the Shoranur Junction-Thiruvananthapuram Central Venad Express requires not only good lung capacity but hardcore gym training too. Why? The train, which departs Ernakulam Town at 5.20pm, gets overcrowded because no train runs to Thiruvananthapuram after Parasuram Express that leaves Ernakulam Town at 1.55pm. Passengers can be seen travelling on footboards, hanging onto the handrails beside the door for dear life.
Fed up with railways’ apathy in introducing an additional service towards Kollam to resolve the issue, passengers, especially women, submitted complaints at various railway stations between Ernakulam and Kayamkulam on Wednesday.
“It is a wagon tragedy in the making,” said Ajaz Vadakedam, executive member, Friends on Rails. “The number of passengers from Tripunithura (where the Venad Express arrives at 5.38pm) has risen significantly with the opening of the metro station.
Lack of proportionate increase in train services has worsened the misery. Trains are experiencing unprecedented crowding. A service before Venad Express is essential.” He said passengers have decided to continue with their protests.
Shija Shaji from Kanjiramattom said there is no point in merely coming out with explanations and excuses after an accident occurs. “Many people travel hanging onto the doorways.
A solution has to be found,” she said. Another passenger, Krishna from Kottayam, highlighted how the train arrives totally packed.
“The Venad Express arrives at Tripunithura packed to the doorways. It is common to see women and children screaming in distress when they are unable to board. Every journey is a terrifying experience,” she said.
People arrive exhausted from their offices and want to get home as soon as possible, said Sreejith Kumar, district secretary of Friends on Rails.
“But once they reach the station, the sight of the overcrowded train leaves them mentally and physically drained. Passengers are getting killed slowly,” he said.
