Date:25/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/25/stories/2008102555750700.htm

Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram

Train services hampered by shortage of coaches

S. Anil Radhakrishnan

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even though the Southern Railway had recently given 20 general second class coaches to Thiruvananthapuram division, shortage of coaches is affecting the smooth operations of train services.

Many passenger trains are jam-packed. Paucity of spare coaches in Thiruvananthapuram division is also affecting the operations.

Last week, the departure of the 6347 Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore Express and the 2698 Thiruvananthapuram Central-Chennai weekly superfast from here was delayed by 45 minutes and two hours respectively due to mechanical defect of coaches. Sources said the delay could have been avoided had there been enough spare coaches.

As per a railway circular, a spare of 12.5 per cent has to be maintained for non-AC coaches, 15 per cent for AC coaches, five per cent with the division, five per cent on the up and down transit and five per cent with the Southern Railway headquarters for operating special trains. But, the division hardly gets any spare coach. The requirement is 347 general second class coaches, 68 AC two tier, 122 AC three tier, three first class, 554 three-tier sleeper, 158 second class-cum-luggage van coaches and 123 second class chair car coaches.

Supply

The production of all categories of coaches in the country is just 3,000 annually. Of this, 850 go for replacement of unfit coaches, 750 for Mumbai suburban services. The remaining 950 coaches have to be divided among the 16 railway zones.

The railways are also under pressure to commence the 50 new trains that were announced in the railway budget by Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad.

Divisional Railway Manager Titus P. Koshy said that paucity of coaches being faced by the division was yet to be fully addressed. “The rake link of Kerala Express is being reworked so that the situation can be addressed,” he said.

As per the proposal, the rake of the incoming Kerala Express will go to Chennai daily for maintenance as Chennai Super Fast. The rake after maintenance will return as Chennai Super Fast to the State capital and later leave for New Delhi from here as Kerala Express.

With this, the divisional authorities will have a spare rake and the 24 coaches will be used for augmenting other trains.