Despite being the second largest revenue earner for Southern Railway, Coimbatore continues to have inadequate train services.
Coimbatore is a gateway to Kerala, and hill station Udhagamandalam.
Coimbatore has a number of hospitals, and education institutions.
It is also fast becoming an IT hub.
The grouse of passengers from Coimbatore to Bengaluru is that they don’t have adequate quota of seats in the three trains that originate from Kerala and pass through Coimbatore.
They have to rely on buses that charge exorbitant fares.
Welcoming the decision to introduce a day train to Bengaluru, Jameel Ahmed of Coimbatore Rail Users Association says a night train is an absolute necessity, even if it is up to Yeswantpur.
Railway sources say lack of terminal facilities at Bengaluru is preventing them from introducing a night train.
Those coming to Coimbatore seeking medical care, and education are affected by the poor train services, and flight services, says G.K. Nagaraj of the Coimbatore Railway Struggle Committee.
Even the night trains to Chennai have a long wait-listed passengers.
The buses that ply on the Coimbatore-Chennai route are not that safe, says R. Raveendran of Railway Struggle Committee.
Coimbatore needs night trains to Mettupalayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Goa, and Mangalore.
The Jan Sathabadi Express to Mayiladuthurai should be made a daily train with more ordinary coaches, and an additional air-conditioned coach, says Mr. Nagaraj. Now it is not run on Tuesdays,
More trains are needed to Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, and Kanyakumari too.
Now just one link express is operated to Tirunelveli and Tuticorin. There has to be a separate trains to Tuticorin and Tirunelveli, besides to Kanyakumari or up to Thiruvananthapuram.
After the completion of gauge conversion along the Podanur – Pollachi stretch, the existing Coimbatore – Rameswaram weekly train should be made a a daily service.
The railways should operate Inter-City Expresses from Coimbatore to Salem, Tiruchi, Madurai, and Kochi, says Mr. Ravendran.
A train to New Delhi via Bengaluru, and Shirdi too is needed besides another night train to Tirupati.
