Kochi: Passengers unhappy with new train timings

Kochi: Regular train passengers, especially officer-goers, are unhappy with new train timings and have called upon railway authorities to revert to the old schedules.

The change in timing of morning peak hour trains reaching the capital city has not gone down well with them as they point out that the same amounts to violation of the state human rights commission. The latter directed the railways to re-schedule the trains so that they reach the destination before 10 am.

“Following intervention of the commission, the railways last year promised in a written communication to the commission that it would advance arrival timing of three key trains. This to facilitate office-goers report for work on time. However, the same had been violated,” said Liyons J, Secretary, ‘Friends on Rails’.

In its letter, the railways promised to advance arrival time of Malabar Express (16630), Guruvayur-Thiruvananthapuram Intercity Express (16341) and Vanchinad Express (16303) to 9.30 am, 9.50 am and 10 am respectively.

“However, they again violated the commission direction. The Intercity Express arrives only by 10.15 am and Vanchinad 10.25 am,” he said.

Also the schedules of trains are unscientific. While Vanchinad Express which departs from Kollam at 8.25 am reaches Thiruvananthapuram only by 10. 25 am, Jayanti Janata Express, which arrives at Kollam later at 8.50 am, reaches the capital city ten minutes earlier (10.15 am).