With track upgrade and maintenance works gathering momentum in tandem with the annual work season in Kerala, regular commuters are feeling the pinch of trains being detained for varying durations during peak hours.
They are hence demanding that the Railways communicate any unforeseeable or unannounced delay in operating trains, at least at stations where trains are detained so that commuters can opt for alternative modes of commute. “Many, like office-goers and those who are travelling for some urgent need, are badly affected by unannounced detention of trains owing to track-related works. Prompt announcement at respective stations will help them choose other commuting modes like buses, and also metro rail in the case of Ernakulam. It will also benefit those who have for some reason forgotten prior announcements regarding delayed running of trains,” said P. Krishnakumar, general secretary of Thrissur Railway Passengers’ Association.
The Railways, whose officials are members of commuter WhatsApp groups, too can pass on such information. Else, commuters often have to walk up to the station master’s room with such queries. In addition, extra effort must be made to confine track upkeep works to late-night hours, so that peak-hour train movement was not affected for days together, he added.
