Pathanamthitta: The Railway has increased the speed of the trains running in the Kayamkulam – Ernakulam (via Alappuzha) route to a maximum of 110 kilometres. However, there wouldn’t be a significant change in the travelling time as the trains would strictly slow down at thirteen spots owing to speed regulations. Even though trains like Vandebharat that have fewer stops could improve their running time, it wouldn’t make any changes in the running time of trains that have multiple stops including at Haripad, Ambalapuzha, Cherthala and Thuravoor. In the Ernakulam – Kayamkulam (100 km) route, the trains could accelerate to the maximum speed of 110 kilometres only in stretches of 15 – 20 kilometres.
PN Soman, central committee member of the All India Loco Running Staff Association says that the loco pilots cannot drive the train continuously at a stipulated speed due to speed regulations at certain spots and stops at regular intervals. He added that increasing or decreasing the speed rapidly would affect the average speed of the train. Meanwhile, the passengers’ associations point out the authorities should focus on taking proper actions that would increase the speed of the trains on the tracks rather than just doing it on paper. They say that the Railway should give priority to constructing three or four lanes of tracks in the latest alignment and increase speed by straightening the curves on the tracks.
