MP meets GM

(Mangalam dt 8-10-2014)

(Madhyamam dt 8-10-2014)

(Deepika dt 8-10-2014)

GM Visit

(Mathrubhumi dt 8-10-2014)

(Malayala Manorama dt 8-10-2014)

(Deepika dt 8-10-2014)

(Madhyamam dt 8-10-2014)

(Mangalam dt 8-10-2014)

(Veekshanam dt 8-10-2014)

It takes 40 minutes for a train to cover 3 km!

It takes less than 90 minutes for the Shoranur-Ernakulam passenger train to cover 104km. But it takes 40 minutes to cover the 3km stretch between Ernakulam town and junction stations! The train leaves Shoranur at 5.30am and reaches Ernakulam town station at 6.45am after traversing 104km. The next 3km journey to Ernakulam junction takes 40 minutes because it has to make way for other trains. The railway timetable that came into effect this September shows arrival time of the train at Ernakulam junction as 7.25am.
Passengers said that railway officials, who had assured them of taking up the issue, are ignoring the complaint.
“Regular passengers from Palakkad, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts depend on this train every day. We had sought help from MPs from these districts, but nothing has happened,“ said P Krishnakumar, general secretary , Thrissur railway passengers association.
(Shyam PV, Times of India dt 7-10-2014)

Railway to make toilet facility free

The Southern Railway has decided to make the pay and use comfort stations in the railway stations free for passengers.
All divisional railway managers (DRM) under the Southern Railway have reached at a consensus in this regard when they recently met to discuss the `clean railways campaign' as part of the Gandhi Jayanti observance.
DRM of Thiruvananthapuram division Sunil Bajpai said the decision would be implemented soon. They would soon wind up their association with the contractors who have been maintaining the comfort stations till now.
“We have noticed that the hygienic conditions at the comfort stations were below par despite being maintained by contractors. Despite charging money from passengers for using the facility, the contractors seldom took efforts to clean the comfort stations. The railway staff could do a better job than this,“ said Bajpai.
When a person buys a ticket, it is not just for the journey but for utilizing other facilities offered by the railways. “Hence why would a passenger pay extra for using the comfort station,'' asked Bajpai.
DRM said though the Southern Railway was the first to take a step in this regard, other railways are also expected follow their footsteps soon.
(Times of India dt 7-10-2014)

Sponsored waiting shelter at Punkunnam

1st of its kind in India. Waiting shelter designed & constructed by Vishraam Builders at Punkunnam Railway Station, as part of their corporate responsibility. This is the first such shelter in Indian Railways totally sponsored by a private agency for the public.
Based on a request from TRPA, Er. Sreeranj, MD of Vishraam Builders has agreed to design & construct waiting shelters at Punkunnam, free of cost. This is the first one just completed. Vishraam will construct 3 more such shelters at Punkunnam after final acceptance of the first one by Railway Engineers.

(Mangalam dt 7-10-2014)

(Mathrubhumi dt 7-10-2014)

(Malayala Manorama dt 7-10-2014)

(Deepika dt 8-10-2014)

(Deshabhimani dt 7-10-2014)

Late running of Shornur - Ernakulam Passenger

(Deepika dt 10-10-2014)

(Malayala Manorama dt 8-10-2014)

(Mathrubhumi dt 6-10-2014)

Dynamic pricing for tatkal tickets

(The Hindu dt 4-10-2014)