The ladies coaches on trains will be attended to by on-duty Railway Protection Force (RPF) staff at wayside stations, who will oversee the opening and closing of the doors of these coaches before and after the entry and exit respectively of passengers.

This system is being introduced in the aftermath of an intruder creating a scene in the ladies coach of the Ernakulam-Kottayam passenger train last week. RPF commissioner K.J. Joy told Deccan Chronicle that a decision has also been taken to provide more of police escort in trains, following the incident near Kottayam.

At present, the RPF is providing escort to 18 mail and express trains and 24 passenger trains in the division on a regular basis, utilising a total strength of 66 staff including women constables. All the passenger trains running in the state between 6 pm and 6 am are escorted by the RPF.

Those encountering any problem can contact the RPF Helpline on 9995040000 and Rail-alert on 9846200100, that are “functional round-the-clock”.

After the Soumya murder a year back, 95 posts in various ranks from constable to inspector had been created in the RPF in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad divisions to provide security to passengers both in trains and in railway premises.

Besides, the RPF also increased the strength of women RPF staff from 14 to 29 in Kerala. These women RPF personnel are deployed on ladies coaches.