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)
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)
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