Passengers demand additional cars on Mettupalayam trains

COIMBATORE: Regular passengers utilising the Mettupalayam-Coimbatore unreserved MEMU trains have urged railway authorities to increase the number of cars. The demand comes as an increasing number of passengers are making use of the services.
MEMU services were introduced in 2017 as a replacement for the passenger train between Mettupalayam and Coimbatore. Rail users say the service, which was introduced with eight cars, continues to remain the same despite an increase in the number of passengers using the service. However, the service which started with three trips per day, was increased to five trips per day from June 20, 2022. Despite an increase in the number of trips, users say the evening and morning services are jam-packed with passengers.
DLS Rajendran, organizer of Coimbatore and Mettupalayam Rail Passengers Association, said railway officials are yet to fulfill the long pending demand to add four more cars to cater to passengers. B Manimaran, a regular passenger said, “The cars get full at Mettupalayam itself, leaving little space for passengers boarding at Karamadai. The number of passengers boarding at Karamadai is almost equal to the number of people who board at Mettupalayam,” he said.
Rajendran added introducing an additional trip from Mettupalayam at 4.45am will help passengers catch at least six trains from Coimbatore Junction. People are now forced to travel to Tirupur to catch these trains as the MEMU train’s first trip starts only at 8.20am.