Kerala trains crowded with Vishu rush as waiting list crosses 200; Special trains still missing

Kannur: During the Vishu holiday season, waiting list tickets have become a source of revenue for the Railways. Even when the waiting list crosses 200, passengers continue to book tickets that are unlikely to be confirmed. Trains running within Kerala, as well as those bound for Chennai and Bengaluru, have waiting lists exceeding 200, making things extremely difficult for thousands of passengers.

Whether passengers cancel their tickets listed as waiting or not, the railways reportedly earn around ₹7 crore daily from this. Most passengers book tickets despite being far down the waiting list, hoping their tickets will get confirmed at the last minute. Even as travellers depending on the premium Tatkal scheme feel the heat of the situation, as the ticket rates are more than three times the normal, the railway continues to squeeze passengers who desperately depend on the waiting list in the hope that it will become ‘confirmed’ on the day of their journey.

Special trains: railways overlook Malabar-bound travellers

Chennai: Despite the usual festive rush during Vishu, the railways have again allegedly neglected the Malabar region without sanctioning any special trains on this route. The main trains from Chennai to Mangaluru—Chennai–Mangaluru Mail and Chennai Central–Mangaluru Superfast—have sleeper class waiting lists exceeding 125, and more than 75 in third AC.

Passengers say that unless a special train is scheduled from Chennai to Mangaluru via Palakkad by 12 April, it will be difficult to reach home for Vishu. Last year, after sanctioning special trains to other regions, the railways allotted one from Tambaram to Kannur on 13 April. However, this did not benefit many passengers.

Southern Railway authorities have said that no decision has yet been made on sanctioning special trains to Mangaluru or Kannur. Travellers believe that if a special train is announced from Chennai Central to Mangaluru after 5 PM, berths would be booked within hours. The only requirement is that the announcement be made at least two days in advance.

However, Southern Railway often announces special trains to Mangaluru just a day before their departure. Many people only find out on the day the train leaves, leaving little time to prepare. Sometimes, trains are scheduled from Tambaram to Mangaluru via Palakkad at 1:30 PM, but these trains often have only sleeper and general coaches. Moreover, trains from Tambaram tend to take longer to reach home. Passengers are demanding an end to this inconsistent approach by the railways.

Special train to Kollam via Palakkad on April 12

Chennai: Responding to persistent passenger demands, a special train from Chennai to Kollam via Palakkad has been approved. The train (06113) will depart Chennai Central at 11:20 PM on 12 and 19 April and arrive in Kollam at 3:30 PM the following day. The return train (06114) will leave Kollam at 7:10 PM on 13 and 20 April and reach Chennai Central at 11:10 AM the next day.

Reservations will begin at 8 AM on Thursday. The train will not have AC coaches. It will consist of 12 sleeper coaches and 6 general coaches. Stops will include Arakkonam, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Podanur, Palakkad, Thrissur, Aluva, Ernakulam North, Kottayam, Changanassery, Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Mavelikkara and Kayamkulam.