KOCHI: When it comes to the Thiruvananthapuram division of Southern Railway, passengers struggle to understand the logic behind the timetable set by the Railways. The situation is such that after 1.45pm, there are no train services towards Thiruvananthapuram via Kottayam. More than three trains, including a MEMU, conduct services in a gap of minutes before the timing.
“If one wants to travel to Kollam via Kottayam after 1.45pm, they need to wait for Kerala Express that arrives at Ernakulam Town railway station at 5pm,” said Liyons J, secretary, Friends On Rails. The association of railway passengers had submitted a memorandum with the Southern Railway seeking to streamline the timetable.
“But, instead of resolving it, the Railways further disrupted services affecting hundreds of commuters who travel between Ernakulam and Kottayam. As per the new timetable, the MEMU service to Kollam via Kottayam was rescheduled to start from Ernakulam Junction railway station at 1.35pm from its earlier timing of 2.40pm.
The new timing is of no use to commuters,” adds Liyons. Anjana K, a commuter, says MEMU’s new timing is making it inconvenient. “Many depend on it, however, the timing is bothersome. What work finishes by 1.35pm? Offices open only by 10am. It would be better to reschedule the MEMU’s timing to its original 2.40pm,” she said.
George M N, another passenger, claims that the Railways saying it has come up with the new timetable without studying the pros and cons of running trains within a gap of minutes. He said, “And if such a timetable is to be adhered to, even the double lines won’t be enough.
All the chaos will again result in trains getting held over at stations. This was the very first thing the Railways wanted to avoid, for which double lines were constructed.” He alleged that the latest decision made by the Railways points toward a hidden agenda.
“This might be an attempt to gradually stop services of trains citing poor ridership,” M Geeta, president, of Friends On Rails, said. “The Railways is turning a blind eye to the needs of students, women and other passengers. It should bring back the pre-Covid timetable,” she added.