Kochi: Revisiting its decision that threw thousands into misery, the Railways on Friday restored 8 memu and passenger trains, which were withdrawn from service in the Kollam-Ernakulam route early this month. The services were reinstated after commuters staged protest.
The cancellation of trains had led to allegations that railway officials were incompetent. The All-India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) alleged that the problems were result of the lack of efficiency and foresight on the part of the officials. The association says authorities claim shortage of loco pilots, but the real problem has been lack of fresh recruitments.
There are about 100 vacancies in the railway division. Of these 90 are of loco pilots on goods, passenger and mail trains, and 10 of crew controllers. More than 70 vacancies arose due to retirement of employees. The association pointed out that the Railways did not try to fill in these vacancies.
It is quick to point out a few other examples of lack of efficiency on the part of Railways. While the seven pairs of passenger trains on the Kollam-Punalur route and those on the Thrissur-Guruvayur route are allowed to run, the busy daytime trains in the Ernakulam-Kollam route have been canceled.
Special memu trains ran services in Kottayam-Alappuzha routes in place of canceled trains in which thousands of students and employees used to travel every day. The Ernakulam-Kollam special service via Kottayam used to depart at 2.40 pm on Saturday and reach Kollam by 6.55 pm. The Kollam-Ernakulam daily service via Alappuzha would start at 8.50 am and reach the destination at 12.20 pm. The Railways have now announced cancellation of these services.
Restored memu, passenger trains:
66300 Kollam-Ernakulam memu 7.45 am
66301 Ernakulam-Kollam memu 2.40 pm
56387 Ernakulam-Kayamkulam passenger 12 noon
56388 Kayamkulam-Ernakulam passenger 5.10 pm
66307 Ernakulam-Kollam memu 11.10 am
56381 Ernakulam-Kayamkulam passenger 10.05 am
Kayamkulam-Ernakulam passenger 1.30 pm