Kochi: Deviating from its usual practice of refunding tickets upon train cancellations, the Thiruvananthapuram division on Friday acted swiftly to make alternative arrangements for hundreds of commuters after partial cancellation of the Guruvayur-Chennai Egmore Express. Train No 16128, scheduled to leave Guruvayur at 9.15 pm was partially cancelled between Guruvayur and Nagarcoil. This after the pair train was forced to terminate its service at Nagercoil after locals residents squatted on the track to protest on the Jallikattu issue.
While reserved commuters began cancellations of tickets, the railways however announced that special arrangements would be made to facilitate their journey in the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil section and they could continue their journey in the Chennai-Egmore train thereafter. “For the benefit of passengers, the running schedule of Train No 16333 Veraval Express was changed to that of the Egmore Express and with the same stops except for Ernakulam South and Aleppey. All those with reserved tickets were allowed to travel in the same class in Veravel Express. Those with e-tickets too were given the facility after they were asked to contact railway officers at concerned stations. TTEs and station masters were directed to help commuters,” said a senior railway officer.
The passengers of Train No 16127 (Chennai Egmore-Guruvayur Express) were allowed to continue their journey from Thiruvananthapuram in the Thiruvananthapuram-Nizamuddhin Express with the same tickets. “The usual practice of railways is to reimburse the full amount. Those with emergencies will find alternate modes of transport like flight, bus etc. But there are still people like senior citizens who prefer to travel by train. We appreciate the initiative of the officers in the Thiruvananthapuram division and request that the policy of giving alternate accommodation in case of train cancellations may be continued,” said P Krishnakumar, President, Thrissur Railway Passengers’ Association.
