Rail users demand diversion of long-distance trains through Tamil Nadu

Kanyakumari: The Kanyakumari District Railway Users’ Association (KDRUA) has appealed to the Minister for Railways and Southern Railway authorities to divert few long-distance trains from and to Kanyakumari that now pass through Kerala and re-enter Coimbatore, to be run fully inside Tamil Nadu so that it benefits a large section of people in the southern districts.

Secretary of the association, P Edward Jeni said they have been giving representations to the minister and railway authorities for at least three years, whenever they received information that new trains would be plying from other parts of the country to Kanyakumari through Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam in Kerala. “But, we have not received a proper reply for our representations over the years,” he rued.

The association pointed out that Kanyakumari and nearby districts would benefit if more trains connecting other states ply through Tirunelveli and Madurai as it would help them get easier access to Chennai. “The route through Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam is 150km longer, and takes three to four hours more for passengers from Kanyakumari,” he said.

The KDRUA demanded that train no. 12659/60 Nagercoil – Shalimar Gurudev Weekly Express, train no. 22620/22619 Tirunelveli – Bilaspur Express and train no. 15905/15906 Kanyakumari – Dibrugarh Vivek Weekly Express should be diverted through Madurai and Tirunelveli. “Moreover, the Bilaspur train reaches Tirunelveli at a very inconvenient time,” he said.

Jeni said they have taken up the issue again as they came to know about a proposal to make the Bilaspur train as a bi-weekly. “Since the railways have turned a deaf ear to our pleas we are planning to move the high court the next time the railways announces long-distance trains to Nagercoil, Kanyakumari or Tirunelveli through Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam via Coimbatore,” he said.

Rail passengers demand more amenities

Thiruvananthapuram: Despite an annual increase of 63% and 55% in passenger earnings at Nagercoil Junction and Neyyattinkara railway stations, respectively, over the past five years, the railways is neglecting commuters south of Thiruvananthapuram, it is alleged.

With the increase in earnings, passengers have been demanding more amenities at these two stations, but the railways maintain that the earnings are not sufficient to meet their demands.

According to the Thiruvananthapuram division data, the annual passenger earning at Nagercoil Junction railway station has increased from Rs 28.39 crore to Rs 46.43 crore during 2012-13 to 2016-17. Similarly, Neyyattinkara railway station, a major station with good passenger movement between Thiruvananthapuram Central and Nagercoil railway station, has improved its revenue from Rs 12.89 crore in 2012-13 to Rs 20 crore by 2016-17.

Kanyakumari railway station earned a revenue of Rs 12.52 crore in 2012-13, which hiked to Rs 18.37 crore in 2016-17.

“Our demands are ignored by the railways despite an increase in annual earnings and number of passengers. We need more trains via Madurai route. There had been a hike in revenue in the stations south of Thiruvananthapuram, after the commencement of Nagercoil-Bengaluru daily in 2014. We also need more amenities at the stations,” said P Edward Jeni, secretary, Kanyakumari District Railway Users’ Association.

While Neyyattinkara and Nagercoil stations at least have proper platforms, minor stations in between, such as Balaramapuram, Parassala and Eraniyal have more worries to share. Not even periodic maintenance is carried out in these stations, parking facilities are the bare minimum and there are not even proper toilets, it is alleged.

The passengers are demanding digital coach indication boards, paved platforms, platform shelters, computerized public addressing system, prepaid taxi service, and escalators and elevators at the major stations.

According to senior divisional commercial manager V C Sudheesh, the facilities at each station is provided according to the norms of railways and category of the station.

“The annual revenue of Rs 40 crore, is insufficient to provide all the facilities available at A1 class stations. The average non-fare revenue of the division is Rs 30 crore to Rs 35 crore, including advertising and parcel. At present, stations under Thiruvananthapuram division have more facilities.

The passenger revenue at Thiruvananthapuram division is not sufficient to provide basic amenities to passengers, as the tickets are issued at subsidized rates. It is through sponsorship and financial support from MPs and non-fare revenue that we provide basic amenities at the station,” said Sudheesh.