With the Railways announcing only four summer trains from Ernakulam so far, non-availability of tickets has made it difficult for people to travel to cities like Chennai or Bangalore during the vacation.
“Interestingly, no additional train is there for Bangalore which wasn’t the situation last year.
This, even after the railways has agreed to convert the three-day Bangalore-Ernakulam Jn Super Fast into a daily,” said Paul K.J. Manvattom, President, All Kerala Railway Users Association President.
Of the four trains, the Kochuveli-Howrah (02852) will next run on April 29.
No tickets are available in the Quilon-Madras Express running every Tuesday and Saturday between April nine and June 22.
The other two trains are Ernakulam-Kurla (01066) Express running on every Thursday from April 5 to June 7 and the Tirunelveli-Kurla Express every Monday till June 5.
“However, the railways is set to announce a few more summer specials in May. But how does it help the commuters who plan their trips in advance.
Actually all trains should have been announced and introduced by March end,” a railway official said on the condition of anonymity.
Meanwhile, there are demands for an additional train to either West Bengal, Orissa or Assam.
“Migrant labourers are coming to Kerala like never before.
Currently, the trains to these destinations are jam-packed and people are seen dangerously hanging on the doors,” Paul said.