The much-awaited Ernakulam-Thrissur Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) was flagged off by Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas at Ernakulam Junction Station on Saturday. The MEMU will conduct service on all days except Tuesdays.
The rake will be taken to Palakkad for repair on Tuesdays. As per the railway timetable, the train will start journey from Thrissur railway station at 10.50 am and reach Ernakulam at 12.55 pm.
At 2.30 pm, the train will start its return journey from Ernakulam to Thrissur. The train will have stops at Ollur, Puthukkad, Nellayi, Irinjalikkuda, Challakkudy, Divine Nagar, Koratty,Karukutty, Angamaly, Chowara, Aluva, Kalamassery, Ernakulam North and South stations. The train will be later extended to Palakkad, as announced in this year’s railway budget.
According to officials, moves are afoot to change the timings of the MEMU services as it is not convenient for the commuters.
However, Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Agarwal said that change in timings will involve high-level decisions and it cannot be implemented soon.
Currently, the MEMU is functioning as a filler train and is accommodated during the time when no other trains are using the route, DRM said.
On the commissioning of the MEMU shed at Kollam, Rajesh Agarwal said that the decision in this regard should be taken at a higher level. He also refuted claims that the delay in commissioning the shed was not owing to the lack of railway staff.
“Currently, Palakkad is considered an ideal location. Also, a lot of changes have to be made in the system if it the shed has to be commissioned,” he said.
All-Kerala Railway Users’ Association president Paul K Manjavattom welcomed the Railways’ move to start the MEMU service in the Ernakulam-Thrissur sector.
“We hope that the MEMU will run on all days,” he said.
The Railways also hopes to start more MEMU trains in the Ernakulam-Kollam sector. Currently, the Railways is running MEMU services on the Ernakulkam-Allapuzha-Kollam, Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kollam and Shornur-Palakkad-Coimbatore routes.
Passengers are hopeful that the Palakkad-Erode MEMU will also be commissioned soon which will help in bringing down the road traffic from Coimbatore to Pallakad, Thrissur, Ernakulam and Kollam considerably.
Meanwhile, the passengers’ association has demanded that trains or MEMUs be introduced in the Ernakulam Junction- Alappuzha-Kayamkulam sector starting at 8.30 am, Ernakulam Junction-Kottayam-Kayamkulam sector at 8.30 pm and Kayamkulam-Kottayam-Shoranur at 4 am.
Union Minister K V Thomas said that the Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Thripunithura stations will be mordernised in the near future.
“Also, the foundation stone for the escalator work will laid at the Ernakulam Junction station in April,” he added.
