Kerala: Stir looms as trains run late

Kochi: Daily commuters travelling in peak hour passenger trains have threatened to launch protests as the services get delayed on a frequent basis for the last over three months. The late running of trains up to an hour behind schedule has made life difficult for officegoers travelling to the city and back from destinations like Thrissur. “We’ve given representation to higher railway authorities but to no effect. We’ll wear black bandages around arms this week-end as a symbolic protest if the authorities fail to take steps to make the trains run on time. The main issue is halting the trains to facilitate passage of Express trains,” said R. D. Manikandan, Secretary, Edapally Railway Passengers Association and a daily commuter from Thrissur.

The complaints are mainly with regard to three trains – (T No 56365) Guruvayur-Punalur fast passenger, (T No 56371) Guruvayur-Ernakulam and (T No 56361) Shornur-Ernakulam passenger. Hundreds of officer goers residing in Thrissur and near-by region are depending on these trains and many are facing disciplinary action from their offices for reporting late continuously. “We are facing actions like warnings and Loss of Pay upon reporting late for five continuous days. Many of our co-passengers have recently started depending on bus services due to the late running of trains,” said Sony Antony, another daily commuter of the Shornur-Ernakulam passenger.

The running history of the trains indicate that the Shornur-Ernakulam passenger got delayed upto one hour in 26 of the last 30 days while it was 24 for Guruvayur-Punalur and 21 days for Guruvayur-Ernakulam Passenger. However, the railways attributed the delay to the ongoing track maintenance work being undertaken at various stretches. “Post the Karukutty rail derailment mishap, we’ve been focusing on track maintenance works even at the cost of train operations,” a senior railway official said.