Title - Railways mulls extending MEMU to Kottayam

Passenger organisations in the State are demanding that the Ernakulam -Thrissur mainline electrical multiple unit (MEMU) train service, which was flagged off from Kochi on Saturday, be extended to Kottayam. They say the service can be extended in the afternoon hours when the rake remains idle at Ernakulam station. The railway is said to be looking into the issue.

Boost to connectivity:Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Agarwal says that a decision in this regard will have to be taken at a higher level.Providing a boost to inter-district connectivity, the long-overdue Ernakulam-Thrissur mainline electrical multiple unit (MEMU) train was flagged off in Kochi in the presence of Union Minister of State for Food and Consumer Affairs K. V. Thomas; MPs and MLAs; and passengers’ representatives. The representatives demanded more such services between nearby districts to reduce traffic congestion on highways. The MEMU is currently being operated when the rail traffic in the Ernakulam-Thrissur route is comparatively less.The Ernakulam-Thrissur MEMU that was announced in the 2012-13 Railway Budget will ply on all days except Tuesdays when it will be taken to the Palakkad MEMU centre for repairs and cleaning.

The service will begin from Thrissur railway station at 10.50 am and reach Ernakulam by 12.55 pm. The train will start its return journey from Ernakulam at 2.30 pm and reach Thrissur by 4.50 pm.

The train will stop at Ollur, Puthukkad, Nellayi, Irinjalakkuda, Chalakkudy, Divine Nagar, Koratty, Karukutty, Angamaly, Chowara, Aluva, Kalamassery, Edapally, Ernakulam Town and Ernakulam Junction stations.

Passengers’ organisations demanded that the train operate during peak hoursMEMU shed

Mr. Agarwal refuted allegations that lack of adequate personnel was causing the inordinate delay in commissioning the MEMU shed at Kollam.The MEMU trains in Kerala are now taken to Palakkad for maintenance works.

The All Kerala Railway Users’ Association demanded that the MEMU run on all days, instead of only six. For this, the Railway should take steps to commission the MEMU shed at Kollam, the association said. It must also commence additional MEMU trains in the Ernakulam-Kollam sector as promised, it added.

Passenger associations demanded more trains and MEMUs from Ernakulam to Kayamkulam through both Alappuzha and Kottayam, during early morning and late evening. Another demand is for an early morning train to Shornur from Ernakulam.

Stations’ development

Minister K. V. Thomas said that Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town and Tripunithura railway stations will be developed in the near future.

The work on the escalators proposed at Ernakulam Junction will begin in a month.