Kochi: Speed cautions eased; trains to chug faster

Kochi: The Southern Railway has relaxed speed caution in four sections of Thiruvananthapuram division with track maintenance works there getting over, a development which will result in considerable improvement in punctuality of trains.

"The speed caution of 10 to 45 kmph was lifted in these sections and nod for operating at a speed ranging from 60 to 80 kmph was given. The same has resulted in trains saving upto half-an-hour and improving punctuality," said a senior railway official.

While three sections fall in Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayamkulam sector, the other was in Vallathol Nagar-Ernakulam stretch. For instance the speed restriction of 45 kmph in Changanassery-Tiruvalla was relaxed and locopilots can operate at 80 kmph here.

Ever since start of track renewal and replacement works two years ago, passengers were complaining over frequent delay of key trains. In the Southern zone, the division lags behind others when it comes to punctuality -- 45.68 per cent as against Chennai and Palakkad at 66.4 per cent and 69.08 per cent respectively.

Meanwhile, the authorities have hastened the track maintenance works.

"The target for this financial year (2019-20) is 130 kms. We've already done 15 kms in the last two months. The works, though, will suffer during the next two months as we'll be busy with monsoon preparation activities (high patrol, pruning of trees in danger of falling over the overhead lines and the like)," he said.

The division achieved highest output in the last five years when 138 kms of track were re-laid in 2018-19, bettering the 83 kms done in 2017-18.

The speed restriction of 15 kmph on both tracks at Angamaly Yard too is being enhanced to 30 kmph. The trains which have no stop there can save upto 10 minutes with the ease in speed caution.