THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The change in schedule of 70-odd
trains in the state has come as a disappointment for passengers as the Southern Railway has extended the arrival time of trains at terminal stations, effectively increasing their running times.
The move follows a warning issued by railway minister Piyush Goyal recently that train delays will cost senior railway officials their promotions. Passengers who hoped for a better punctuality rate have been let down with the Southern Railway revising arrival times of several trains.
Thiruvananthapuram Division has stated that the change in schedules has been brought about due to line blocks for track renewal but passenger groups blame railway officials with vested interests.
In a statement released on Thursday, railway authorities said the track renewal work by using track re-laying train (TRT) machines will continue at Angamali-Edappally section till June 25, except on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
Members of ‘Friends on Rails’, a non-profit organization of train commuters, have sent a request to Goyal to withdraw the revised arrival timings.
Claiming that the revised arrival timings were a dubious plan by officials at the Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad railway divisions to improve their performance on paper and not in practice, the letter states, “Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad divisions have been the worst performers as far as punctuality was concerned. The railway officials have extended the arrival time of trains at the terminal stations alone, effectively increasing the running times.”
The members also pointed out that as per the new schedule, 16348 Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Express takes 100 minutes to cover 41km from Varkala to Thiruvananthapuram Central. Similarly, Train 12623 Chennai Central–Thiruvananthapuram takes 85 minutes and 16344/16350 Amritha-Rajya Rani Express takes 92 minutes to cover the same distance in the new schedule.
Also, arrival timings of most of the express trains between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam have been extended by 30 minutes or more.
“There is no logic in the revised timings. Vested interest of railway officials is at work. It is a ploy to deceive commuters, the railway board and the ministry. Most of the commuters are employees and students who will suffer due to the rescheduling,” said Liyons J, member of Friends on Rails.
Meanwhile, a letter from the Southern Railway addressed to the DRM of the Thiruvananthapuram division being circulated in social media, stated that the arrival timings of select super-fast and non-superfast trains have been altered to achieve the target of 80% punctuality.
The list, which contains 87 trains with revised arrival times of trains, includes 71 trains plying through Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad railway divisions.
Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has also written to the railway ministry on train delays and has requested it to maintain punctuality.
The arrival times of trains at terminal stations have been extended, effectively increasing their running times