The Hindu : Kerala / Thiruvananthapuram News : Plea to improve train services

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Friday, Mar 14, 2008
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Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Plea to improve train services

Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kulithurai Railway Commuters’ Association has demanded a new daily train service from Thiruvananthapuram to Nagercoil between 7 and 7.30 p.m. to clear the rush of passengers

A press note issued by the association here on Thursday said the over-crowding of compartments and late running of trains on the route had made rail travel a nightmare for commuters. Association secretary B. Ben Jacob Singh said several passengers were forced to occupy cargo cabins to reach their destination because of the restriction on travelling in reserved compartments and harassment by ticket examiners. “Raking in profits without providing reasonable services shows the Railways in a bad light. It is poor management to issue tickets in excess of the carrying capacity of a train,” he said. “Though half the passengers towards Nagercoil, Madurai and Chennai are Tamil speaking people, there is no announcement in Tamil at the Thiruvananthapuram Central Station. This results in avoidable chain pulling and delay of trains,” he added.

Mr. Singh observed that the Kulithurai station lacked even basic amenities though it earned a revenue of Rs.1.5 lakh every day. There were no waiting rooms, toilets or benches. There was also no bridge connecting the platforms. He called for immediate steps to develop the Kulithurai station and improve basic infrastructure.

The association highlighted the need to provide a halt at Kulithurai for long-distance trains like the Kanyakumari- Jammuthavi Express, and Nagercoil- Gandhidham Express. It also demanded electrification and doubling of lines.

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