With the Railways citing its constraints in operating more trains from Kerala to Bengaluru, Mumbai, and Chennai due to “non-availability” of vacant tracks, commuters are demanding more special trains to the metro cities to cater to the increased demand from Keralites living there during the summer vacation.
The Western India Passengers’ Association has been at the forefront, demanding restoration of the Kanyakumari-Pune Express (Train numbers 16382 and 16381) to Mumbai CST or Lokamanya Tilak Terminus, and the daily operation of trains 22113 and 22114, the Lokamanya Tilak Terminus - Kochuveli SF. It further sought the extension of Train no. 12223, the Lokamanya Tilak Terminus-Ernakulam Duronto Express, to Kottayam .
Association general secretary Thomas Simon further demanded removal of the ‘surcharge’ on trains travelling through the Konkan route, citing how the chargeable distance was “inflated”.
