RailEnquiry

KOCHI: The launch of the Ernakulam-Thrissur Mainline Electrical Multiple Units (Memu) service has brought cheers to short-distance commuters as they need to spend only less than half the fare of express trains.

They can now travel to Thrissur in two hours at Rs15 compared to Rs 35 in express trains while an Ernakulam-Aluva journey will cost only Rs 5 against Rs 30 in express trains.

The train leaves Thrissur at 10.50am and reaches Ernakulam at 12.55 pm. In the return direction, it leaves Ernakulam at 2.30pm and arrives in Thrissur by 4.50pm. Railway sources said 300-400 tickets for Thrissur and Aluva are being sold a day on an average for the Netravati Express from Ernakulam Junction station. The number of passengers goes up to even 500-600 on Fridays and Saturdays. Meanwhile, the fast passenger bus fare to Aluva and Thrissur is Rs15 and Rs 55 respectively.

Railway authorities said all passengers travelling from Kochi to Aluva in Netravati are likely to shift their journey to the Memu. "The number of passengers in Memu is expected to go up in the coming days as railway stations on the Ernakulam-Thrissur stretch have a better connectivity compared to other stations," said area manager (Ernakulam) P L Ashok Kumar.

"The journey comes at a cheaper rate compared to the express trains and bus. The train should run on all seven days, instead of only six," said All-Kerala Railway Users' Association president Paul Manvettom.

The authorities, however, are worried about the dip in earnings following the launch of Memu services. The introduction of Memu services on Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kollam and Ernakulam-Alappuzha-Kollam routes have resulted in an 80% dip in the sale of tickets for Parasuram Express and Sabari Express from Ernakulam Town.

"We will conduct a study on impact of Memu services in the revenue," a railway official said.

The train has stops at Ollur, Puthukkad, Nellayi, Irinjalakuda, Chalakkudy, Divine Nagar, Koratty, Karukutty, Angamaly, Chowara, Aluva, Kalamassery, Edappally, Ernakulam Town and Ernakulam Junction stations.

The train has stops at Ollur, Puthukkad, Nellayi, Irinjalakuda, Chalakkudy, Divine Nagar, Koratty, Karukutty, Angamaly, Chowara, Aluva, Kalamassery, Edappally, Ernakulam Town and Ernakulam Junction stations.