Alert passengers! Train services to be disrupted in Kerala till March 26th, timings to change

KOCHI: Train services will be restricted till March 26 as works are ongoing to increase the height of the platforms at Ernakulam Junction (South) railway station. The action was taken based on complaints about the height difference between the train doors and platforms, which posed the risk of an accident.

In the first phase, construction has started on platform number two. As part of this, restrictions have been imposed on trains starting and ending from Ernakulam up to the 26th of this Month. Some trains have been rearranged to start service from Aluva. Partial changes have been made to the services of six trains, including the Kannur Intercity and the Vanchinad Express.

Kannur Intercity, which departs from Ernakulam at 6 am, will now depart from Aluva at 6.22 pm till the 26th. Vanchinad Express, which departs from Thiruvananthapuram at 5.45 pm, will operate only up to Kottayam during this period. Ernakulam - Palakkad MEMU (66610), supposed to depart from Ernakulam at 2.45 pm, will start from Aluva till the 26th.

There will be no service connecting Ernakulam - Aluva. Guruvayur - Ernakulam Passenger (56317) will stop service at Edappally till the 26th. Kollam - Ernakulam MEMU will run only up to Tripunithura. MGR Chennai - Alappuzha Daily Express (22639) will run half an hour late till the 25th.

After the completion of platform two, the height of platforms three, four and five will also be increased. Four years ago, the tracks were raised to stop water from entering the tracks during the monsoon. This has reduced the height of the platforms. Due to this, the elderly and women have been facing difficulty in boarding and alighting from the train. The height of the platforms is being increased by 20 to 50 cm at a cost of about Rs 2 crore.

The service change left many passengers in disarray, who were unaware of the happenings. Complaints were also raised about the Kannur Intercity starting from Aluva. However, the railways explained that it had informed passengers and the media in advance.