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Time of India
30-07-2025
- Time of India
Express train's termination at Tvm North stn leads to chaos
T'puram: Travellers coming to the city for work and to visit hospitals face inconvenience as Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram Express has been terminated daily at Thiruvananthapuram North railway station (Kochuveli) since July 19. It has been more than a week since the train was shifted from Thiruvananthapuram Central, but adequate buses are not available for passengers who arrive by the train to reach the city, say passengers. The passengers are forced to pay exorbitant money to hire autos. The autos do not use the metre to charge passengers. Passengers say that there is only one bus from the railway station when the train arrives at 7.40am and that too only to Thampanoor. However, people who board the train from Kottayam, Chengannur, Kollam and other stations for work and to visit medical college hospital or regional cancer centre suffer because they have to spend on autos or taxis to reach the city, said Victor, who travels to the city for work from Kollam. "The regular travellers will rush out of the station and board the waiting bus. But those who come occasionally often miss the bus and have to depend on the expensive autos and taxis," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Seniors are going crazy for these comfy, stylish, easy-on shoes Ultra-Comfortable Shoes Undo Liyons J from Friends on Rails said that many people who work in private companies are affected. "They are not able to punch in for work at 8am because of this change in terminal station without arranging alternative arrangements," he said. The situation is worse for the commuter crowd in the evening as people are forced to cram into the Intercity and Vanchinad Express for their return journey every day. "There should be adequate KSRTC buses to help passengers board the train," he added.
New Indian Express
26-06-2025
- New Indian Express
Upgrade facilities before fare hike, passengers tell Railway
KOCHI: Railway passengers' associations have come out against the hike in the fares of long-distance trains, including AC coaches. While welcoming the Railways' decision to not increase the fares of ordinary services and season tickets, they pointed out that the fervour the Railways shows in increasing the fares should also reflect in bettering the facilities that make train journey seamless. Friends on Rails has registered its strong protests against the measures taken by the Railways to increase revenue by cutting down on the number of general compartments. 'These compartments have been restricted to one section in some trains. There has been a reduction in the number of de-reserved bogies since the introduction of LHB (Linke-Hofmann-Busch) coaches,' said a Friends on Rails representative. Women passengers have pointed out the insufficient number of ladies' compartments. 'From two compartments in some passenger and express trains, it has been reduced to one. And that too with the size of the coaches having gone down from full to half,' said Satidevi R, who works at a government office in Tripunithura. Friends on Rails also highlighted the tactic of delaying trains that arrive on time. 'They halt a train that is running on time to allow the passage of a train that is late by two or more hours. Then there is the trick of halting trains in the outer areas of stations. Such waiting time extend to more than 30 minutes,' said another passenger.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Automotive
- Time of India
Railway firm on parking fees, commuters cry foul
T'puram: Southern Railway is yet to roll back the steep increase in parking fees at railway stations in the Thiruvananthapuram division that was implemented from June 1. As per the new tariff rate, the two-wheeler parking for a month rose from Rs 360 to Rs 500. People are upset as the parking rates and season ticket rates together push up monthly commuting costs. "The new tariff has more than doubled the charges for parking, making it unaffordable for the common man," said Liyons J of Friends on Rails. "It has to be reconsidered," he added. Not all two-wheeler users are granted monthly passes and most stations only offer them to those parking for less than eight hours. Collection practices are arbitrary and some stations collect money without issuing proper receipts, he added. Passengers are also demanding CCTV surveillance in parking areas. Passengers alleged that the railway failed to provide any security for parked vehicles and also did not offer adequate facilities. Additionally, there is an extra charge for storing helmets and raincoats. Following a request from Friends on Rails officials, Kodikkunnil Suresh, MP, formally requested the Thiruvananthapuram divisional manager to review the revised rates. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 2 & 3 BHK Homes Near Padur, OMR Starting @ ₹72.50 Lakh* TVS Emerald Undo A railway official said that the parking fees were decided after considering the feasibility. "It was decided based on a survey on the feasibility of the rates. It may be difficult to reduce it because the contract has been given and the licence fee has been fixed," official said. TNN Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Time of India
Passengers demand daily service for Thiruvananthapuram north to Tambaram express via Punalur
Thiruvananthapuram: Rail passenger associations and frequent travellers want the railways to make the Thiruvananthapuram North to Tambaram AC Express (06035/06036) via Punalur and Sengottai a daily regular service. It is currently operated as a special train on Sundays from Thiruvananthapuram to cater to the busy special train was introduced a year ago. It was extended during the Onam festival or Ganesh Chaturthi festival and is now being run for summer holidays. The train is highly popular and the reservation status is on the waitlist on most days. The train is full for the next three is one of the oldest services that used to run during the metre gauge days. It was discontinued when the Kollam to Sengottai route was closed for gauge conversion. Dipu Ravi of the Kollam-Sengottai Railway Passengers Association said, "Initially, on an experimental basis, the train had four trips, but the unprecedented demand made railways extend the service covering summer months also."The railways also increased the number of coaches from 15 to 18 and the train takes around 16 hours to reach Tambaram along one of the shortest routes between the two cities. Passenger associations based in TN and Kerala submitted requests to MPs and railway officials urging them to make it a regular service, he J of Friends on Rails said the special train is a much-needed option for people to travel between the two capital cities. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Making history: These 5 timepieces set world records at Watches and Wonders Geneva 2025 CNA Read More Undo "It will be good if railways can make it into a regular service. There is a huge demand. The number of trains between the cities is not adequate. Therefore, we are seeing a rush on special trains."In addition to the trains via Palghat, the route via Nagercoil is also popular because it is by far the shortest route and passengers can reach Chennai in around 12.15 hours. However, the Kollam-Punalur-Sengottai route opened another option and also helps to cater to the people of the region to travel to Chennai.
Time of India
13-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Middle berth fall puts passenger safety at risk
T'puram: The accident in which a woman was injured after a middle berth fell on her in the MGR Chennai Central-Palakkad express train on Monday shows the poor maintenance of fixtures in accident occurred after the train passed Jolarpet railway station. The middle berth fell on the passenger who was in the lower berth, and she suffered injuries to her head. Reports say that the accident happened when the passenger in the middle berth got down to go to the toilet. The chain fastening the berth was loose, and it fell on the girl in the lower berth. She was made to disembark at Salem and was admitted to a govt J from Friends on Rails, an association of railway passengers, said the chain does not fit well often. "In many cases, the passenger has to be careful when installing the middle berth. The Railways should also check all the chains of the berths before a train is prepared for a trip."Meanwhile, the southern railway blamed the passengers for the accident, saying that it happened due to improper handling of the chain-link hook by the passenger. The statement issued by the railway authorities also says that primary maintenance involving thorough scrutiny of the coaches was carried out and a fitness certificate was issued for the train. However, passengers often find many fixtures in the coaches on most trains non-functional, despite the coaches undergoing pre-departure maintenance checks. The charging port, toilet doors, latches of toilets, and the waste bin below the washbasins are often not in good condition in most of the trains, including those that have Linke Hofmann Busch coaches."Rather than blaming passengers, Railways should ensure that fixtures are in good condition. I often found the chain loose when the berth is folded up, but it becomes secure when a passenger gets on it," said Kavya Menon, a regular Railways tried out different designs to ensure that the chain that holds the middle berth remains stable. But constant use often makes them loose. These chains are not replaced till the coaches are sent for periodic overhaul, as it's not easy to get the same type of said that pre-departure checks are supposed to ensure all fixtures are in order but these checks may not be thorough due to a reduction in staff allocated per rake for this work. In an accident last June, a passenger had died after a middle berth fell on him in an Ernakulam-Nizamuddin railway has requested passengers to securely fasten the middle berth using the chain link hook after use. Improper handling or failure to lock the berth correctly may pose safety risks to fellow passengers, a statement said.
