Kerala: Train schedules go out of control

Kochi: The commuters had a tough time travelling on the eve of “Vishu” on Wednesday as train services went haywire with the railways taking up untimely track maintenance works at two key sections. What resulted in the delay was the work at Ollur station (Thrissur-Ernakulam section) and  two areas along the Chengannur-Tiruvalla stations.

The situation is expected to continue over the weekend as the services will be regulated to facilitate the subway work in Eraniel-Nagercoil section. While the Island Express (No 16526) was over two hours behind schedule, the Guruvayur-Punalur (No 56365), Chennai-Alappuzha SF (No 22639) and Guruvayur-Ernakulam passenger  (No 56371) were all late by up to one-and-a-half hours.

“Almost all trains were running late affecting daily commuters and also the holiday travellers. The regulation due to the work at Ollur and Tiruvalla was only till Wednesday morning but the same got delayed. Besides passenger trains, in-bound and out-bound long-distance trains too got late by hours,” said Mr P. Krishna Kumar, general secretary, Thrissur Railway Passengers Association.

When asked about the untimely maintenance works being carried out during the festival season, a senior railway official said the funds for the track maintenance work were allotted and the same should be completed before the monsoon sets in.

Meanwhile, the KSRTC conducted five services from Puthukad railway station mainly to Guruvayur to help the commuters. “The buses were operated after we requested the KSRTC officials and 540 commuters benefited. The Chennai-Egmore train got delayed by over three hours and also the Ernakulam-Guruvayur passenger was cancelled,” said Mr P.C. Jithu, joint secretary, Puthukad Passenger Association.