Kochi: The much-hyped new DEMU train service flagged off by Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Sunday failed to evoke much response from the commuters on Monday.
Since the air-conditioned DEMU coaches have been returned to Tamil Nadu, the old MEMU coaches were operated as per the DEMU’s new schedule.
There were only two passengers in the first service from Ernakulam junction to Tripunithura at 6.30 a.m. The train reached Tripunithura station by 6.50 am and halted there for over an hour.
The train with eight coaches had only five or six passengers when it reached Ernakulam town station at 8.30 a.m. Similar was the situation in other stations like Edappally, Kalamassery and Aluva from where only a few commuters boarded the train.
Meanwhile, the passengers expressed the apprehensions that the new service might be cancelled citing the poor response. “The timing has to be changed so that more passengers from Piravom and Angamaly can benefit. The service should also be extended up to Thrissur,” said a commuter.
According to railway authorities, it will take more time to popularise the new service as commuters are not aware of the time schedule. There are also plans to make changes in the schedule based on demand.
Though DEMU service is expected to facilitate urban transport in a big way, generally it takes time to attract passengers. It is expected to benefit the daily commuters, especially along the Aluva-Tripunithura route, the proposed Metro corridor.
Meanwhile, urban transport experts are of the view that the DEMU service might not have a big impact on the prosp-ective ridership of Metro rail.
“It will not be an alternative for Metro since the route and fare are different. Those travelling to city centres and within the city have to depend on the Metro rail,” said a civic expert.
