Passengers in the State will be hit by the move to restrict stoppage for mail and express trains at stations on the basis of sleeper-class tickets sold there and to withdraw uneconomic trains.
With bus fares set to be hiked from March 1, the decision of the Railway Board will be a setback to hundreds of passengers who depend on trains daily.
The decision is to withdraw trains that do not have occupancy of at least 10 to15% and to restrict stoppage for mail and express trains in railway stations that sell less than 40 sleeper-class tickets.
Night travellers hit
This will especially hit those boarding trains from smaller stations and those travelling during night hours.
Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee (DRUCC) member P. Krishna Kumar said limiting the stoppages for mail and express trains should be avoided for trains operating within the State and to southern States and Chennai and Bengalaru.
Mr. Krishnakumar, who is also the general secretary of the Thrissur Railway Passengers Association, said limiting stoppages would be feasible for mail and express trains operating to Hyderabad and beyond. But the passengers who depended on them should be provided with alternative arrangements like Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) services, he said.
Convenience key
At present, Railways operate trains based on the availability of rake and crew rather than convenience and viability.
The DRUCC member said Railways should make convenience of passengers the sole criterion while charting trains.
Railway stance
A top railway official told The Hindu that they were in the process of identifying trains that had less patronage and railway stations that generated less income through ticket sales.
“Already, some special trains are downgraded when there is not enough reservation. This is as per the Railway Board guidelines and it is a continuous process,” the official said.
