Relief for commuters: Southern Railway to restore Kozhikode-Thrissur passenger train services

Chennai: Following MP MK Raghavan’s intervention pointing out the significant difficulties faced by travellers due to the stoppage of trains, Southern Railway General Manager (GM) R.N Singh has assured that the stopped Kozhikode-Shoranur Express Special train (unreserved, 06496)  and Thrissur-Kozhikode Express Special (unreserved, 06495) will be reinstated.  The assurance was given by the GM at a discussion held at the Southern Railway base here.  

The stoppage of the Kozhikode-Shoranur Express Special train (06496) and the short-termination of the Thrissur-Kozhikode Express Special (unreserved, 06495) since the beginning of this month have been causing inconveniences for travellers and office-goers in the Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad, Thrissur districts. MP has raised this issue with Railways and development comes as a response to it. 

GM also said that the decision to reschedule the Shoranur-Kozhikode Express (06455) to three hours later will be reexamined.  GM also announced that a train that runs between Chennai-Mangalore on Friday and Mangalore-Chennai on Sunday is under consideration due to the increasing rush along this route.

Meanwhile, Raghavan had put forth the following demands to Southern Railway:

• Allot stops for Alappuzha-Kannur executive express (16307/16308), Malabar express (16630/16629) and Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram express (16347/16348) in Kadalundi and Feroke railway stations. 
• Extend the service of Bengaluru-Kannur Express be till Kozhikode 
• Step back from move to reduce sleeper coaches and add additional AC coaches in the Malabar, Maveli trains 
• Postpone the timing of the Chennai-Mangalore (12685) express from 4:25 pm to 5:00 or 5:30 pm
• Convert coaches of the Chennai-Alappuzha (22639/22640) and Chennai-Mangalore (12601/12602) to LHB coaches.

Reacting to the demands, GM said that they will be given due consideration.