Plea to revise train timings

KOLLAM: Demanding revision of the train timings on the recently opened gauge-converted Kollam-Punalur line, commuters, under the banner of the Railway Passengers Association, marched to the Kollam railway station and staged a dharna on Friday. They warned of stronger agitations, such as train blockades, if the demand is not met.

Four pairs of trains have been introduced on the line reopened in May. But commuters say the timings do not enable them to reach places of work or study and return home in time.

Inaugurating the dharna, S. Ulhaskumar, president of the association, alleged that the schedule seemed to have been prepared to suit the interests of the railway employees rather than the commuters. The Madurai Railway Division was ignoring the needs of the Kollam-Punalur section and hence the line should be brought under the jurisdiction of the Thiruvananthapuram division.

The first train from Punalur reaches Kollam only at 9.45 a.m.

The main demand is for a train that does so by 8.15 a.m. Only then commuters travelling beyond Kollam in the direction of either Thiruvananthapuram or Kayamulam can get connecting trains.