IBS at Chowara commissioned

(Mathrubhumi dt 1-2-2015)

(Malayala Manorama Kochi dt 1-2-2015)

(Mangalam dt 1-2-2015)

(Madhyamam dt 1-2-2015)

(Deepika dt 1-2-2015)

Railway Budget Wishes

(Malayala Manorama Metro Kochi dt 29-1-2015)

Electrification in Malabar

(Malayala Manorama dt 28-1-2015)

Former CAG to advise

(Malayala Manorama dt 25-1-2015)

Avoid ticketless travel please

(Malayala Manorama Kochi dt 25-1-2015)

Good Decision

(Mathrubhumi Outside Kerala Edition dt 23-1-2015)

Well done BEML

(Mathrubhumi Bangaluru dt 18-1-2015)

Railway in Keralam

(Times of India dt 15-1-2015)

It's a `long road' for state rail projects

State Needs To Chip In Half The Doubling Cost; Future Of Kanjikode Proposal Hinges On Locating PPP Partner.

A fresh lease of life for the Kanjikode factory proposal is the only assurance CM Oommen Chandy and opposition leader V S Achuthanandan got from the Union railway minister when they met him in New Delhi on Tuesday . The state delegation had submitted an eight-page request to minister Suresh Prabhu that included the completion of doubling, electrification, gauge conversion, line and survey works. It also included demands like the introduction of suburban trains and installation of automatic signalling system.
The oft-repeated projects of Kerala's political establishment like the setting up of peninsular railway one and wagon factory at Cherthala also found a place in the memorandum. In a refreshing break from the past, the memorandum did not run into hundreds of pages ­ usu ally a compilation of the memorandums by MPs ­ that were left unread by top railway officials.
But, it remains to be seen which of the projects in the eight-page list is ap in the eight-page list is approved in the upcoming railway budget. Even in the case of the coach factory , the going will be tough, said MP M B Rajesh, who has been pursuing the project with railway authorities in New Delhi. “Railways needs to find a private partner for the project which will be implemented in PPP mode. Some of the tender conditions have been liberalized so that the private players show interest. Officials had claimed that they had held pre-bid discussions with some of the potential partners and had assured me that the retender notice will be issued in December 2014. But nothing has materialized,“ he said. Earlier, steel giant SAIL had expressed interest and railways shot down the proposal saying the firm is a public sector entity , he said.
Railway officials said the only doubling work that was likely to be completed before March is the Piravom-Kuruppanthara stretch. Doubling will thus remain incomplete in the Ernakulam-Kottayam sector. This means proper capacity utilization of the rail lines between Shoranur and Thiruvananthapuram will take more time. No allocation has been made, so far, for doubling the Ernakulam-Alappuzha-Kayamkulam line. Railways has asked the state government to chip in half the cost for undertaking the doubling work, apart from seeking free land. The state government has not agreed to this proposal. Similarly in north Kerala, only the Shoranur-Kozhikode electrification is facing a March deadline and the Kozhikode-Mangalore side will remain incomplete,.
Introduction of automatic signalling system ­ which can simultaneously augment the speed of existing trains and create facilities for the introduction of the muchneeded suburban rail system ­ has not been included in the proposal. Officials said state has to expedite the land acquisition to complete rail doubling works and launch new lines. The state will have to revisit its approach on financial participation in rail projects.
(T. Ramavarman, Times of India dt 15-1-2015)

On Suburban front

`Metro city' clause hits rapid rail plan

The implementation of proposed rapid rail transit system (RRTS) from Thiruvananthapuram to Chengannur seemed a hassle-free affair when officials led by planning board vice-chairman KM Chandrasekhar met Union railway minister Suresh Prabhu two weeks ago. There were reports that the Union government had agreed to share 50% of the project. However, things do not look that bright after chief minister Oommen Chandy met Prabhu on Tuesday .

Sources said the Union minister informed Chandy that the Union ministry has proposals to implement RRTS in metros only . District collector Biju Prabhakar, the nodal officer for the project, said that the Centre has conveyed that funding is not possible. “We are still pushing for 50-50 funding option,“ he said.

The feasibility report submitted by Mumbai Railway Vikas Corporation (MRVC), RRTS will ensure a travel time of 130 to 160 minutes from state capital to Chengannur. The sixcar service will have a passenger capacity of 1,916. Initially, it was stated that the entire project cost of Rs 3,330.78 crore was to be funded by the state government.

The RRTS was suggested as a cost-effective solution as the new rail corridor or road widening is a huge challenge due to the new land acquisition act.“Cost of new rail corridor at grade and elevated corridor will be around Rs 5,700 crore and Rs 25,000 crore for the same distance. Therefore upgradation of existing railway network is the most immediate cost-effective solution,“ MRVC stated in the feasibility report.

(Times of India dt 15-1-2015)

(Malayala Manorama dt 15-1-2015)

(Malayala Manorama dt 14-1-2015)

Budget hopes

(Malayala Manorama dt 14-1-2015)

Budget meeting

(Mathrubhumi dt 14-1-2015)

Protest at Idappalli

(Malayala Manorama dt 11-1-2015)

Rly moots new suburban service

Proposed Project To Use Existing Rail Network And Memu Cars

The Thiruvananthapuram railway division is planning a new service to ease passenger congestion in Ernakulam area.
The plan, tentatively titled `local area service', will have a dedicated service connecting Ernakulam Junction, Aluva and Mulanthuruthy.
“A detailed project plan has been prepared and is under consideration at the operations department.For the local area service, we will be using existing rail network and mainline electric multiple unit (Memu) cars,“ said a railway officer, Thiruvananthapuram railway division.
Sources said that as per the prepared rail route, the trains will be run between Ernakulam Junction and Aluva, Aluva and Mulanthuruthy, and in the reverse. “The primary aim of the service is to reduce congestion in long distance and inter-state trains. We believe that once the local area service begins, local passengers would shift to the service. The local area service will have stops in all stations between Ernakulam Junction-Aluva-Mulanthuruthy-Ernakulam Junction,“ the source said. At present, Memu and passenger trains are used to cover a wider network connecting many sections.Once the local area service is introduced, a Memu will be exclusively used for the purpose.
There are more than 6,000 season ticket holders travelling between Thrissur and Ernakulam on any given day, and majority of them depend on long-distance trains to commute.
At the same time, sources from the operations wing said that the signalling system will have to be improved to make the service a reality.
“We can definitely introduce such a service, but we need to have an automatic signalling system.The local area service will have to be introduced at peak hours and our tracks are heavily congested during that time,“ said the source.
Passengers, meanwhile, welcomed the proposal. “We have been re questing railways for the past many years for such a service. This will not only reduce congestion in trains, but will also bring down traffic on the roads. If one person spends more than one hour travelling from Aluva from Ernakulam by road currently, the proposed service will take him 30 minutes. We can save time and money as well,“ said P Krishnakumar, general secretary, Thrissur railway passengers association (TRPA).

Trains delayed

Kochi: Delay in passenger and long distance trains on Thursday and Friday caused inconvenience to commuters, especially office-goers.
On Friday, the Shoranur-Ernakulam Passenger was delayed by one hour and four minutes when it reached Ernakulam Town railway station. The Guruvayur-Ernakulam Passenger was delayed by 41 minutes, Chennai-Alappuzha Superfast Express by 57 minutes, Island Express by 19 minutes and Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur Jan Shadabdi Express by one hour and 12 minutes.
Railway officials said special trains and long distance ones were delayed disrupting the schedule of several other trains.
At the same time, commuters said in the New Year, none of the passenger trains ran on time. “In the last nine working days, I reached my office late. We have complained about the same with the authorities, but they are paying no heeds to our worries,“ said R D Manikandan, committee member, Edappally railway passengers association, who works with an automobile firm.
(P.V. Shyam, Times of India dt 10-1-2015)

Palakkad - Pollachi

(Malayala Manorama Palakkad dt 6-2-2015)

(Mathrubhumi Palakkad dt 9-1-2015)

Assurance on 56371

Thrissur - Tripunithura MEMU mooted

Yet another derailment threat near Ekm station

Hours before an iron pipe was found on the railway track near Kozhikode in a possible sabotage bid, unidentified miscreants blocked the track changing point near KSRTC bus station here on Saturday evening that could have led to derailment. The incident also delayed the Ernakulam-Shoranur Passenger (train no. 56364) by more 30 minutes.
“The delay happened due to the failure of point no 135 (near KSRTC bus station) where a stone was found stuck at 5.55pm. This led to the delay in attaching the engine to the train,“ said a railway source.

A point is an arrangement used to guide the train to other tracks. “The points are mechanically operated. If there is any obstruction, it may even lead to derailment,“ the source added.

Senior railway officers said that stones were used to block the four points between Ernakulam Town and junction railway stations regularly till four months ago. “People deliberately put stones at these points. Four months back, we deployed RPF men on mufti and arrested four people red-handed. No such incident was reported till Saturday evening after the arrests,“ said a railway source from Ernakulam.

Meanwhile, fed up by the late running of Ernakulam-Shoranur passenger train, railway passengers have now demanded a MEMU service between Tripunithura and Thrissur stations. “It will be really helpful if a MEMU service is introduced on the stretch, at least till the Kochi Metro work is over,“ said P Krishnakumar, general secretary , Thrissur railway passengers' association (TRPA).

According to railway officials, the time schedule of the Ernakulam-Shoranur passenger will be revised soon. “We have already recorded the actual time required for the service. We hope to revise the timing of the train for better service,“ a senior railway official said.
(P.V. Shyam, Times of India dt 5-1-2015)

Meeting at Idappalli

(Madhyamam dt (9-1-2015)

(Mathrubhumi Kochi dt 9-1-2015)

(Madhyamam Kochi dt 9-1-2015)

(Rashtra Deepika Kochi dt 6-1-2015)

(Malayala Manorama Kochi dt 4-1-2015)

(Mathrubhumi Kochi dt 4-1-2015)

(Deccan Chronicle dt 5-1-2015)

Complaints through WhatsApp

Initiative, enthusiasm & untiring efforts of R.D. Manikandan is very much appreciated. Hats off to him.
(The New Indian Express dt 3-1-2015)

Dangerous act

(Malayala Manorama dt 4-2-2015)

(The Hindu dt 3-1-2015)

(Malayala Manorama dt 3-1-2015)

Disruption of Rail traffic

(Mathrubhumi dt 3-1-2015)

(Malayala Manorama dt 3-1-2015)

(New Indian Express dt 3-1-2015)

(Rashtra Deepika dt 2-1-2015)