Season ticket holders will find train travel cheaper, when compared to other modes of transport, even though Railways have decided to charge second-class monthly season ticket on the basis of 30 single journeys.
Despite the 14.2 per cent hike in fares that will come into effect from June 25, trains will be the preferred mode of transport for short-distance commuters. Stage carriers are expensive when compared to the revised train fares.
Office-goers and students, who form the major chunk of the season ticket holders, will have to pay almost double from June 25.
But, Railways do not foresee a dip in the number of commuters.
The monthly season ticket fare in the 55-km Thrissur and Aluva stretch has gone up from Rs.235 to Rs.450. In the 75 km Thrissur-Ernakulam stretch, the monthly fare has gone up from Rs.310 to Rs.600.
As quarterly season ticket fares will be 2.7 times the monthly fares, many will now opt for the monthly tickets.
Travelling on season ticket during weekends will be expensive, says general secretary of Thrissur Railway Passengers Association P. Krishnakumar. K.V. Muralidharan, a travel agent and frequent traveller, says the onus is on Railways to provide good coaches and better infrastructure at railway stations.
Youth Congress, DYFI, and AIYF activists blocked railway tracks and burnt effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday in protest against the hike in rail fares and freight charges. Youth Congress activists, led by State president Dean Kuriakose, blocked the Delhi-bound Kerala Express and were arrested.
