more-in The Railway is set to withdraw Kerala’s first Diesel Electrical Mainline Unit (DEMU) train service that it introduced 10 days ago between Ernakulam Junction and Harbour Terminus on Willingdon Island, citing very poor patronage. “Less than 15 people are travelling in the three-coach train during each trip in the 8-km corridor. The daily income is around ?500, while the operational expenditure is over ?35,000,” said Shirish Kumar Sinha, Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Manager. The train which was introduced on an experimental basis will be withdrawn well before the month-end. With little scope for using the train in the division where rail lines were saturated, it would in all likelihood be sent back for use in other divisions under the Southern Railway, he added. Underpass demanded Motorists have been protesting against the railway gate at Vathuruthy being closed twice during morning and evening peak hours during the DEMU’s trips as it caused huge traffic snarls. With the Navy not permitting an overbridge at the location, the demand is rife to construct an underpass here for smooth movement of trains and vehicles. Steam loco Mr. Sinha said a steam engine rake would be introduced between Harbour Terminus and Ernakulam Junction, for heritage enthusiasts. “It is expected to ply on weekends, holidays and on special events. We are trying to get a good set of coaches for the steam-run train. In the meantime, the rail lines leading to the Harbour Terminus station which was renovated for the DEMU service in 2017 will be used for berthing goods trains and also ‘materials trains’ which are used for maintaining tracks,” he said. With little scope for berthing more trains at the congested Ernakulam Junction and Ernakulam Town railway stations, commuters have for long been demanding that the Harbour Terminus station be selected as a terminal point for long-overdue trains such as the ones linking Ernakulam with Rameshwaram, Velankanni and Bengaluru.

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