Kochi: The Railway Board is actively considering a proposal to resume more inter-city train services in Kerala by mid-December. The trains which are expected to start running again include Ernakulam - Thiruvananthapuram Vanchinad Express, Guruvayur - Thiruvananthapuram Intercity Express, Ernakulam - Kannur Intercity Express, Thiruvananthapuram - Madurai Amrita Express and Thiruvananthapuram - Mangaluru Express.
Kochuveli - Mysuru Express, Ernakulam - Okha Express and Thiruvananthapuram - Indore Express are the other trains which the authorities are planning to restart. Already, 40 per cent of the services which were suspended following the pandemic-induced lockdown have resumed services in Kerala.
Meanwhile, the Southern Railway is engaged in preparing a list of trains running at a loss, based on a directive of the Railway Board. Authorities said that the revenue earned by the trains conducting services in Kerala was improving. “Two trains which have poor demand are Alappuzha - Chennai Express and Ernakulam - Karaikal Express. Trains to north India are crowded, but there are few passengers in the air-conditioned coaches,” said an official.
At the same time, the Southern Railway is yet to respond positively to a suggestion of the Southwestern Railway to convert MEMU trains into express services.
