Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

More maintenance staff on trains soon

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Railways are planning to introduce more maintenance staff on trains running in the State and separate queues for platform tickets.

This was announced by Divisional Railway Manager Titus P. Koshy after unfurling the national tri-colour and inspecting the Independence Day parade by the Railway Protection Force at the divisional headquarters here on Friday.

Mr. Koshy said the introduction of mobile maintenance staff on the lines of the Rajdhani Express was aimed at improving on-board services on trains running in the State. The maintenance personnel will travel on the train to ensure cleanliness and proper maintenance of coaches, especially toilets. Separate queue for platform tickets will benefit those arriving to see off their relatives and friends. The platform tickets will be made available from the existing counters.He said plans had been drawn up to modernise retiring rooms in railway stations. Three-star facilities will be provided. Room service will be provided from restaurants. Dedicated ‘hotline’ will be set up in retiring rooms.

The facility will be the first of its kind in the country, he added. The Railways are also finalising plans to begin advance booking facility for the ladies air-conditioned dormitory that has started functioning at the Central railway station building.

To motivate the staff working in goods sheds to speed up release of wagons, Mr. Koshy said canteens that function round the clock would be set up at the goods shed.

A special cell will be set up at the divisional railway headquarters to assist those who have not received parcels on time and those who need help to track down parcels. The IRCTC has been asked to cancel the pantry car licence of Kerala Express following complaints of poor service.

A new mobile number (97467 69723) has been introduced for commuters to contact the RPF in case of emergency in the train.

He added that the Railways would set up a heritage hotel, with a ‘rail ambience,’ at the old Cochin Harbour Terminus station on the Willingdon Island.

The Railways would soon float tenders to award the contract for running the hotel. The plan was to rope in leading hotel groups to run the hotel.

Those bagging the contract would have to maintain the station premises.

The proposed restaurant would be unique and different from the traditional vegetarian/ non-vegetarian refreshment rooms now functioning in railway stations.

Those stepping into the restaurant to be housed in the heritage building would get a glimpse of the functioning of the station master’s office. The station master’s office would be visible to the public from the restaurant.

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