Date:24/03/2003 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2003/03/24/stories/2003032401910300.htm

Southern States - Kerala

Protest against change in train timing

By Our Staff Reporter

THRISSUR MARCH 23. The Trichur Railway Passengers' Association has protested against the change in the arrival time of train no. 6127, Chennai Egmore-Guruvayur Koodal Express, at Guruvayur which would adversely affect the rail passengers.

In a statement here, the association president, D Ananthasubramaniam, and the general secretary, P Krishnakumar, said that the railway authorities had changed the departure time of the train at Thrissur to 4.40 a.m. and its arrival time at Guruvayur to 6.15 a.m.

This would mean that the train would take almost an hour and 35 minutes to travel from Thrissur to Guruvayur, but earlier the same train from Madhura had left Thrissur at 3.40 a.m. and reached Guruvayur at 4.15 a.m.

The association alleged that the change in time was to neutralise complaints that the train was running late frequently after the Madurai-Guruvayur Express had been extended to Chennai.

The association pointed out that the earlier arrival time of the train at Guruvayur was convenient to devotees to pray for the `Vakacharthu' at the Sri Krishna Temple there. The statement pointed out that since the train was running late, the departure of Guruvayur-Ernakulam Passenger train was also being delayed citing technical reasons.

It alleged that the change in train timings was being effected to neutralise complaints on late running of Koodal Express. The passengers from Thrissur had complained to the authorities about the late running of Guruvayur-Ernakulam Passenger. The devotees bound for Guruvayur had also complained to the authorities about the change in the timing of the train.

The association appealed to the railway authorities to desist from such `cheap tactics' and take steps to run the train on time. It suggested that the only solution to the problems pestering the Guruvayur Railway Station was the construction of a second platform.

The association expressed its concern over the increasing threats of thieves on trains. It appealed to the railway authorities to immediately take strong measures for the protection of passengers taking into account frequent theft attempts on women and accidents following such attempts.