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One of the Ernakulam-Kollam MEMU services, which was hit by various problems since its introduction a few weeks back, may be cancelled citing lack of passengers. The Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division has written to the headquarters for the cancellation of the Kollam Junction-Ernakulam Junction service (train number 66310) which starts from Kollam at 12.10 am to reach Ernakulam at 4.25 am and the return train (66307) which leaves Ernakulam at 5.15 am to reach Kollam at 9.30 am.

“The headquarters is examining the proposal and a final decision will come soon,” Divisional Railway Manager of Thiruvananthapuram Division Sunil Bajpai .

“Since we cannot cancel just one train we have asked for the cancellation of the return trip also”. However, the passengers’ associations feel that the move by the Railways was arbitrary and had they planned it in a better way, it would have been a convenient service for the passengers. The service which was started on March 28 was besotted with problems.

The passengers and loco pilots of the MEMUs complained about the timings in which it was running. “We have requested the Railways to advance the timing to make it convenient for the passengers. But instead of planning to make the service work, they are planning to axe the service,” said Paravoor Sajeeb, president, Railway Passengers Association.  Railways had earlier indicated that they would consider a change in schedule. But now it looks like a premature end to the service which started with much fanfare.

Considering the terrain and the time, the loco pilots went on a strike demanding an assistant loco pilot. Subsequently the railways shifted the MEMU rakes and replaced it with passenger coaches. Dismissing the allegation that it was a controversy to handover the rakes to the Palakkad Division and subsequently to the Salem Division, Bajpai said that the patronage was too low to continue the service.

Besides advancing the time,it was difficult as the path was not available. They have been demanding for a seven-day operation of the service which is currently operational for six days, change in timing etc. The authorities are not enthusiastic about running the service on all days.

“If there is low patronage what is the point in running it on all days?” Bajpai asked. A trip from Kollam to Eranakulam costs the railways INR 80,000 but the daily collection was often below INR 1,000.The Passengers’ Association has decided to protest against the move by the Railways on April 19 in front of the Kollam station.

Source-On Request