Kochi: The three-coach DEMU (diesel-electric multiple unit) rake allotted to the Thiruvananthapuram division after much lobbying was taken to Shornur station on Wednesday as part of handing over it to the Chennai headquarters.
The rake, originally brought to Kochi for deploying on the non-electrified Ernakulam-Harbour Terminus station route, was lying idle at the Ernakulam South railway station for weeks after the railways stopped the service altogether citing lack of commuter patronage.
However, there were demands from several quarters to deploy the rake in sections like Thrissur-Guruvayur and Kollam-Punalur as passenger trains.
"We got the rake after much lobbying. The railways could have deployed it in short sections like Ernakulam-Angamaly, Thrissur-Guruvayur or Kollam-Punalur rather than handing it back. We deplore the move as the division often gets neglected when it comes to allocation of rakes," said Paul K. J. Manvettom, president, All Kerala Rail Users Association.
"The three-rake coach was taken back to Chennai. As part of it, the rake was attached with the Ernakulam-Shornur passenger that left the South station at 6 pm," said a senior officer.
When contacted, divisional railway manager Shirish Kumar Sinha said the DEMU rake has only three coaches, unlike the normal passenger trains.
"The rake could not accommodate many people. A standard passenger train has 16 to 20 coaches. Hence we've decided to hand it back to the Chennai Headquarters," he said.
"The railways should not abandon the Harbour Terminus station, renovated after making much investment. They should develop it as a terminal station and extend trains currently terminating at Ernakulam Junction using diesel locomotives to decongest the latter," said P. Krishnakumar, general secretary, Thrissur Railway Passenger Association.
