With the new railway timetable coming into effect from July 1, changes in timings of certain vital trains, especially those connecting the neighbouring metros and Bangalore, will add to the woes of travellers from Kerala.
“The timings of important Kochuveli-Bangalore (train no 16316) have been changed, the train will leave Kochuveli station at 9.30 pm instead of the current 4.15 pm and reach the destination at 12.30 pm instead of 8.35 am,” a top railway official said.
“They have also changed timings of the Island Express which will now leave Thiruvananthapuram in the night instead of 12.55 pm now.
This is to aid the private bus lobby based in Ernakulam. With the trains to Bangalore reaching Ernakulam past midnight, commuters will have no choice but to travel on buses, spending extra money,” P. Rajeev MP said.
The change in timings will affect IT professionals and students, who will now have to take an extra day of leave just for one-side travel, as the trains will reach their destination only in the afternoon.
On the return leg, the Kochuveli Express will leave Bangalore station at 2.30 pm instead of the earlier 5.15 pm to reach its destination in the afternoon.
“The new timings will not be useful either for the commuters of the state capital or Ernakulam, two main stations where the maximum passengers board the train.
Kochuveli is an isolated station located over 10 km from the Thiruvananthapuram city. No transportation will be available for commuters.
Similarly who will board the train at 1.30 am from Ernakulam,” Paul K.J. Manvattom, president of All Kerala Railway Passenger Users Association, said.