Commuters demand additional Memu service via Kottayam to T'puram

Time of India

2 days ago

T'puram: Commuters who travel between Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram are demanding that the railways introduce a Memu service in the evening towards Thiruvananthapuram to ease passenger congestion.
This will also help commuters who board and disembark at enroute stations like Kottayam.
The evening Memu service to Kollam is packed because the frequency of trains in the evening to the state capital is low.
Liyons J of Friends on Rails said, "Despite the benefits of a double track, passengers from Kottayam are struggling with just eight coaches in the evening. After the Kollam Memu at 5.40pm passes, regular commuters rely on the Venad Express, which arrives in Kottayam packed.
After the afternoon Parasuram, the next service from Tripunithura, an IT hub, towards Thiruvananthapuram is the Venad, three hours later. This long gap causes uncontrolled congestion in the Memu from Kottayam.
"
Friends on Rails demanded a train towards Thiruvananthapuram after 3pm to alleviate the woes of people who travel via Kottayam. The demand for a Memu service in the afternoon via Kottayam has been longstanding.
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Women and students travel daily from Ernakulam and Tripunithura to Kottayam, packed tightly, even in stairways and toilet corridors, Liyons added. Additionally, with limited stops, passengers rely more on Kerala Express at 5pm and Venad Express at 5.20pm, leading to heavy congestion on these trains.
The absence of trains towards Thiruvananthapuram after the Venad forces passengers from Tripunithura into precarious travel situations.
After the Parasuram at 15.28pm from Kottayam, travellers to Changanassery, Thiruvalla, Mavelikkara, Karunagappally and all halt stations rely solely on the 5.40pm Kottayam - Kollam Memu. But it has fewer coaches and is crowded, he said.
"A 16-car ICF passenger rake Kumbh is now available at Kollam Junction. Old ICF rakes from trains like the Velankanni Express, now upgraded to modern LHB coaches, are lying at various division stations.
These can be used for running additional services," Liyons said.
J Emma, a regular commuter, said more trains are required to meet the demands of commuter traffic. "The trains are also slow as they have to make way for express services," she said.
The railways is tweaking operations to add more services and improve speed, but the line congestion is too high between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam.
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