Kottayam: Passengers complain that the schedule change of the Palaruvi Express, implemented in January, has made the morning journey more problematic. Previously, the Thoothukkudi-Palakkad Palaruvi Express departed from Kollam at 4:50 AM. However, from January 1, the departure time was changed to 4:35 AM.

As a result, passengers are now forced to leave their homes 15 minutes earlier. Although the train is now scheduled to start 15 minutes earlier, passengers say there is no change in the time it reaches Ernakulam.

Passengers are complaining that the benefits of the doubled tracks are not being realized. Earlier, the Palaruvi Express used to depart from Kottayam at 6:58 AM. Now, with the train leaving Kottayam at 6:43 AM for Ernakulam, many people who relied on local bus services are now unable to catch the train. Passengers are being caught in the schedule of the Vande Bharat Express. The Palaruvi Express, which leaves Kottayam at 6:43 AM, reaches Ernakulam Town at 8:38 AM. On the previous day, after halting for the Vande Bharat Express at 7:50 AM at Tripunithura, the journey resumed only at 8:29 AM.

The Palaruvi Express is the only option for IT sector employees, among others, who need to reach Ernakulam before 9 AM. After the Palaruvi Express, the Kollam-Ernakulam special MEMU service operates only after an hour and a half.

The passengers' association, 'Friends on Rails,' says that even if the Palaruvi Express' departure from Kottayam is delayed by ten minutes, it can still reach Tripunithura without affecting the schedule of the Vande Bharat Express. Passengers are preparing to approach the authorities with a request to adjust the schedule of the Palaruvi Express, according to 'Friends on Rails.'