Tamil Nadu - Coimbatore   

Train commuters sore over curtailment of services

Coimbatore: Even the formation of Salem Division has not fulfilled the long pending dream of Coimbatoreans for better rail connectivity. Now, the commuters are sore over the cancellation of a special train service on the Coimbatore – Erode – Coimbatore sector and also the Coimbatore – Tirupati weekly special trains.

A Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) train was operated on the Coimbatore - Erode section. The first service used to leave Erode at 6.30 a.m. and reach Coimbatore by 9 a.m. and in the return direction it used to leave at 6.30 p.m. and reach Erode at 9 p.m.

The Coimbatore – Erode – Salem section always a witnessed a heavy passenger flow dependent on the “passing through” trains and there was tremendous pressure on the road traffic.

There used to be a bus every five minutes to Tirupur and every ten minutes to Erode and every 15 minutes to Salem. This was adding pressure to traffic on Avanashi Road.

Meanwhile, following public demand, the Southern Railway introduced another service wherein the MEMU would leave Coimbatore at 9.30 and reach Erode at 12.15 and in the return direction, leave at 3 p.m. and reach Coimbatore by 6 p.m.

The service was introduced on a trial basis using the “lie over” rakes that used to remain idle. This was proving to be beneficial for the passengers and the train witnessed more than 50 per cent patronage in just a fortnight. But with effect from November 29, the Southern Railway had chosen to withdraw the service.

This resulted in passengers trying to get into packed trains running from Kerala towards Chennai and other northern destinations. Failing which, passengers were left with no other option but to opt for travelling by buses causing pressure on road traffic. Passengers preferred trains because they were safe, fast and cheap as well, says K. Kathirmathiyon, Secretary of Coimbatore Consumer Cause.

The regular commuters of this train have already petitioned the railway authorities and the Member of Parliament representing Coimbatore and have planned to stage a demonstration and if need be an agitation as well.

There is already a long pending demand for frequent shuttle services between Coimbatore – Mettuppalayam, Coimbatore – Palani, Coimbatore Palakkad and Coimbatore to Erode or even up to Salem so that pressure on road traffic could be eased substantially. However, the Southern Railway has withdrawn even the existing service, causing much hardship to passengers.

Similarly, the long-pending demand of people in Coimbatore was for overnight direct express train connectivity to Tirupati.

There had been repeated representations to introduce at least a tri-weekly service using the idle rakes of the Coimbatore – Rajkot Express train.

The Southern Railway Salem Division that conceded the long pending demand announced operation of services to Tirupati as a special train. But, with one service, the same was withdrawn citing lack of patronage.

Taking objection to the decision, Mr.Kathirmathiyon said, “It is a question of which came first, the chicken or the egg.”

Southern Railway should introduce a service and allow it on an experimental basis for a reasonable duration and then should analyse the patronage.

Even before doing that it should give adequate publicity for the introduction of the service to enable the passengers to avail themselves of the same.

Posters should be put up at reservation counters of all en route stations as well as at bus stands. Information should be provided through the media.

Without resorting to such measures, it was unfair on the part of the Southern Railways to withdraw the services in a hurry.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Meeting on diseases affecting digestive system
Mahakavi Bharathi Aiynthamizh awards
PDK to show black flags to Congress Ministers
BIS standards for motors
Swaminathan calls for communion with Nature
Train commuters sore over curtailment of services
The Hindu’s online contest for students
Commuters sore over curtailment of train services
Exhibition
‘Harmony with Nature should become an ethic’
Registration staff plan stir
Coimbatore today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu