Kerala passengers bearing brunt of Railways' buffer time

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Most train passengers these days are having perennial troubles with trains not stopping at stations during buffer times. Buffer time was formed to alleviate the complaints of train delays. Due to this trouble, passengers are not able to get down at Pettah railway station nor reach Thiruvananthapuram on time as trains are most probably stopped somewhere between the two stations for a long time. Railways can observe the buffer time if halted at Pettah and passengers will not have to wait.

The punctuality of the trains is determined by looking at the time the train starts from the first station and arrives at the last stop. However, in the intermediate stations, there comes a delay that remains unsolved.

According to railways, Buffer time was created to avoid complaints happening due to unexpected or technical reasons that delay the train service. According to experts, the railway board must initiate change to end this dilemma. However, railway officials are asking demands from people's representatives or the government for them to move officially.

Buffer time is given taking into account the maintenance, extra time at stops, speed control, delay to get platform etc. Passenger organizations have pointed out that the buffer time should be reduced if the passengers are to benefit from the doubling of lanes and increased speed. Although it is reasonable to give one one-hour buffer time to the New Delhi-Thiruvananthapuram Kerala Express, which runs a service of 1,000 km, questions are being raised about allowing one hour for trains running within Kerala.