Reduction in travel time

(Mathrubhumi Kochi dt 3-6-2015)

(Malayala Manorama dt 30-5-2015)

Discussion with MP

(Mathrubhumi dt 30-5-2015)

(Malayala Manorama dt 30-5-2015)

(The Hindu dt 30-5-2015)

Additional facilities & developments

(Mathrubhumi dt 30-5-2015)

Eyeing CSR funds

(Times of India dt 30-5-2015)

Interesting Facts

(Times of India dt 30-5-2015)

Lack of terminal facilities

(Times of India dt 29-5-2015)

Trains to North Indian Cities

(Malayala Manorama dt 29-5-2015)

Fate of Coach factory

(Mathrubhumi dt 29-5-2015)

Kochi Super Six

(Malayala Manorama Metro Kochi dt 28-5-2015)

Mobile App

(The Hindu dt 28-5-2015)

Special drive

(Mathrubhumi Thiruvananthapuram dt 27-5-2015)

Late running status

(Times of India dt 27-5-2015)

Promised amenities

(The Hindu dt 27-5-2015)

Survey to revise the timing of Passenger

(Malayala Manorama dt 25-5-2015)

Train time may change after surveySurvey to change the timing 

Most of the passengers ­ who participated in the railways' survey to ascertain the departure time of Ernakulam-Shoranur passenger (train no 56364) ­ have opted for 5.40 pm. Authorities said that over 60% of the regular passengers preferred this over the current time of 6.10 pm. The consolidated data of the survey has reached the office of divisional railway manager in Thiruvananthapuram, and the timing change is expected soon.
“We have been receiving numerous complaints about the regular delay faced by passengers and we had commissioned to know what they wanted. Earlier, it used to start its journey at 5.40 pm. Now, it starts at 6.05 pm from Ernakulam Junction,“ said a railway source.
At present, the train is halted between Ernakulam Junction and Town stations or at other stations to make way for Kanyakumari-Bengaluru City Island Express (train no 16525) and Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur Jan Shatabdi Express (train no 12082).
Authorities had given two options to passengers. In the first option, the train would leave Ernakulam Junction at 5.40 pm and would halt at Aluva station to make way for both trains. The second option was the journey would begin at 6.10 pm and the train would be halted at Irinjalakuda station to make way for a weekly train.
In a separate survey conducted by the Edappally railway passengers association (ERPA) in February this year, over 66% of the daily commuters had demanded a revision.Over 85% had recorded that they were unable to reach home, office or workplace on time due to the late running of passenger trains.
“Ever since the timing of the passenger trains (nos.56363/56364) were revised in 2013, the services were delayed regularly,“ said RD Manikandan, convener, ERPA.
(Times of India dt 24-5-2015)

Byndoor passenger to Kannur

(Mathrubhumi Kannur dt 23-5-2015)

(Mathrubhumi Kannur dt 22-5-2015)

Ends at Guruvayur

(Malayala Manorama dt 20-5-2015)

Suresh Prabhu (RM) on Railways

On his rating for the Railways

The Railways' condition was more precarious than a patient in ICU. I have been in the office of the Railways for over five months now. I can't expect the patient to participate in a marathon immediately.
I have identified the problems of the Railways in my white paper. I did not just leave it at that. I addressed all those concerns for the next five years in my Budget speech. So, my job is to implement the Railway Budget. In the first 36 days after the Budget, I implemented 39 points. Already, each and every announcement has been converted into an actionable point. The implementation of each actionable point is monitored by the chairman of the Railway Board and myself every fortnight. And the monitoring is done online.
So, what's the Railways' problem? It's in my white paper. And then, what's the solution? It's in the Budget. So, we just need to implement those points.

On his big achievements in the Railways in the past year

The Budget itself is a major achievement. The problems of the Railways can't be solved by tinkering here and there. And I don't want to do that either. So, I am focusing one every issue: customer service, safety, modernisation, technology upgradation etc.

On whether his decision not to announce any new train in the Rail Budget will be a permanent feature in forthcoming Budgets too

We will announce new trains at the right time. How can this be related to the Budget, which is a financial document; a policy statement; a vision statement for the government.The issue of new trains is an operational one. I can announce a new train today. I can announce a new stoppage to a train today. That has nothing to do with the Budget.
If you don't have anything new and innovative to say in the Budget, you announce new trains. That's at least the feeling people had earlier.Look, if I want to announce a new train, I don't need to go and get Parliament's approval. But if I take a new policy, I will definitely need to.So far as pricing is concerned, we are setting up a new regulator. It will take a call on pricing.

On how he will raise the funds needed for the Railways when its finances are in such a bad shape

Our proposed investment plan is about eight and half lakh crore for five years (2015-19). And we know where from that amount will come from. We are getting `1.5 lakh crore from LIC (Life Insurance Corporation of India). We are getting re sources from the World Bank and Asian Development Bank. We are at an advanced stage of negotiations with them. We will raise money from tax-free bonds as was announced by the finance minister in his Budget speech. More than half of the corpus of the National Investment and Infrastructure Fund proposed in the Union Budget should come to the Railways.Also, the finance ministry gives us `40,000 crore to `50,000 crore every year and the finance minister says he will give us more. That itself will be `2.5 lakh in five years.

On why he hasn't factored in FDI in his investment plan

FDI will come in any which way. But even if one dollar does not come through FDI, I know how to meet my investment target. FDI money will be supplementary. I can raise my investment plan then. But the Railways should not be judged by whether we are getting FDI or not.

On the status of the highspeed train projects

The feasibility study being prepared by the Japanese experts should be available in the next couple of months. I have met six to seven Japanese ministers who came here. The Japan embassy officials are meeting us regularly. Our team has been meeting them. Once the feasibility study is ready, we will work on the funding part. Japan has offered to fund this entire project through their ODA (overseas development assistance) route...The government of Japan is ready to finance everything (including rolling stock). But I must follow the due process. Let the feasibility study come first.
(Economic Times dt 17-5-2015)

Demands for Timetable revision

(Mathrubhumi dt 21-5-2015)

(Malayala Manorama dt 20-5-2015)

(Deepika dt 19-5-2015)

(Madhyamam dt 19-5-2015)

(Mangalam dt 19-5-2015)

(Mathrubhumi dt 19-5-2015)

(Rashtradeepika dt 18-5-2015)

Automatic Laundry

(The Hindu dt 15-5-2015)

Trains on Google

(The Hindu dt 13-5-2015)

E Catering

(Malayala Manorama dt 15-5-2015)

For differently abled

(Mathrubhumi dt 14-5-2015)

Pollachi line

(Malayala Manorama dt 14-5-2015)

(Mathrubhumi dt 14-5-2015)

Doubling troubles

(Malayala Manorama dt 14-5-2015)

(Malayala Manorama Kochi dt 13-5-2015)

New bridge

(Malayala Manorama Kochi dt 12-5-2015)

Tatkal trains

(Mathrubhumi dt 11-5-2015)

More De-reserved coaches?

(Times of India dt 10-5-2015)

(Mangalam dt 11-5-2015)

(Deepika dt 10-5-2015)

(Madhyamam dt 10-5-2015)

(Mathrubhumi dt 10-5-2015)

(Rashtradeepika dt 9-5-2015)

(Malayala Manorama dt 9-5-2015)

(Mathrubhumi dt 9-5-2015)

Need for a train to Coimbatore

(Times of India dt 9-5-2015)

(Mathrubhumi dt 9-5-205)

(Malayala Manorama dt 8-5-2015)

(Deepika dt 8-5-2015)

(Madhyamam dt 8-5-2015)

(Mangalam dt 8-5-2015)

(Rashtradeepika dt 7-5-2015)