Kochi: Trains to run late for six more months

Kochi: The late running of trains will continue for six more months to facilitate urgent track renovation work but the situation will improve slightly when doubling work in the eight-km long Tiruvalla-Changanassery section is completed by the middle of next month. “We have initiated track renewal and replacement works pending for several years giving primary focus on safety. The situation (punctuality) will improve drastically once doubling in the 115-km long Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayamkulam section is completed, probably in a year’s time. The work, in Tiruvalla-Changanassery section, though will be over by the middle of March and the CRS (Commissioner of Rail Safety) inspection will be carried out thereafter,” said Divisional Railway Manager Prakash Bhutani.

Passengers have complained against some of the trains such as Venad Express regularly running behind schedule, posing difficulty to officer-goers. The railways carried out track replacement for a record 70 kms in the Thiruvananthapuram division last year as against 57 kms in 2015, 28 kms in 2014 and 25 kms in 2013. “The work of eight RoBs and two subways in the Kottayam section are progressing. Also doubling works are progressing in the coastal line except in the Alleppey-Turavur section,” the officer said.