The decision to resume the service came on the back of strong demand to make it a daily service. Kochi: The Ernakulam-Rameshwaram special train is set to resume service. The train has found its place in the new southern railway special train's list for 2018. The commencement date will be announced later.
The decision to resume the service came on the back of strong demand to make it a daily service. When it was launched last year as a special service, there was big rush, prompting several passengers’ associations to demand that it be made a permanent service.
But the service was stopped midway citing lack of rakes by the railway. Now, the main demand is to reschedule the timing from 4 pm to 8.30 pm from Ernakulam. As per the old timing of 4 pm, the train reaches Rameshwaram at 4 am, with the train passing through the Pamban bridge at night. This makes it difficult for passengers to enjoy the journey through the second longest sea bridge in the country. It reaches Madurai also at an odd time.
The passengers’ associations are seeking the revision of the timings, so that the service will start from Ernakulam at 8.20pm, reach Palakkad at 11pm, Madurai at 5 am and Rameshwaram at 8 am.
On its return leg, the train should start from Rameshwaram at 9.30 pm, reach Palakkad at 5 am and Ernakulam at 8.30 am. Though the Thiruvananthapuram-Palakkad Amrita Express has been extended to Madurai, it passes through Ernakulam around 3 am, thus not providing any benefits to passengers from central Kerala.
Instead, the Ernakulam-Rameshwaram should be made a daily service, they said. Their demand is supported by the fact that the renovation work of the Cochin harbour terminus is over and can accommodate a new, permanent service. This is the only train that links Kerala to the three Tamil Nadu pilgrimage centres of Palani, Madurai and Rameshwaram. Since there is no convenient train during night, passengers to southern Tamil Nadu are now relying on costly private bus services.
