Alappuzha: Rail passengers have been demanding to allow a new train on the Alappuzha – Thiruvananthapuram coastal route. They are urging the authorities to allow a new service in this route, too, just like the new Kollam – Ernakulam MEMU service that was flagged off in the busy Kottayam route, reports Manorama Online. Currently, passengers rely mostly on the Ernakulam – Alappuzha passenger (06015) that departs at 4 pm and the Ernakulam – Kayamkulam passenger (06451) at 6.25 pm. Although Ernad Express (16605) and Thiruvananthapuram Central Janasatabdi Express (12075) run on this route, these trains do not have stops everywhere.
The Ernakulam – Kayamkulam passenger train that used to depart at 6 pm was rescheduled to 6.25 pm to accommodate the Mangaluru Central Vande Bharat Express (20632). Besides delaying the departure time, the train is also stopped at many places for longer duration, causing discomfort to the passengers. Many passengers are unable to catch buses or other forms of transportation from their respective stops as the train is often late. The Ernakulam route is severely crowded, especially in the mornings. After the Dhanbad Express (13352) that departs from Alappuzha at 6 am, the next available train is the Alappuzha – Ernakulam MEMU (06016) at 7.25 am. These trains are overcrowded, with passengers often struggling to find space and gasping for air. So, passengers have been urging to allow new trains, both in the morning and evening, to solve this problem.
Demand for change in the timings of Kollam – Ernakulam MEMU
Meanwhile, there has been a demand to reschedule the timings of the newly launched MEMU service in the Kollam – Kottayam – Ernakulam route. The MEMU was allowed to solve the travel difficulties of passengers in Venad Express. The MEMU departs at 6.15 am from Kollam and reaches Ernakulam at 9.35 am; the return trip begins from Ernakulam at 9.50 am and reaches Kollam by 1.30 pm. The passengers want the return trip rescheduled to 3 pm instead of 9.50 am. The MEMU that starts from Kottayam at 5.40 pm is often crowded as this is the only available service after the Parasuram Express at 3 pm to Thiruvananthapuram via Kottayam. Passengers struggle to get onto this train as it runs after an interval of almost one and a half hours.
The usual passengers will benefit if the Ernakulam – Kollam MEMU passes before the MEMU from Kottayam starts. However, the MEMU returns from Ernakulam to Kollam in the morning, reportedly to run services in the Kollam – Punalur and Kollam – Thiruvananthapuram routes. “There aren’t enough trains for the passengers who regularly travel from Thiruvananthapuram to Alappuzha for jobs and other things. The Kozhikode Janasadabdi Express (12076) leaves at 5.55 am and the next train, Netravati Express (16346) is available only three hours later at 9.15 am. Meanwhile, the Mangaluru Central Vande Bharat Express (20632) departs seven hours later at 4.05 pm. The shortage of trains from the capital city poses severe difficulties for regular passengers on this route, especially those who are settled in Trivandrum and have to travel to Alappuzha for work. The Ernakulam – Kayamkulam passenger, which more than two thousand passengers depend on, is stopped at many places so that the Vande Bharat Express, in which a smaller number of passengers travel, can pass. Those who leave their offices at 5 pm can reach Alappuzha only by 8 pm. Many are on the verge of quitting their jobs because of this,” says Bindu Vayalar, Friends on Rails, Alappuzha.
