Thiruvananthapuram: Commuters fear greater inconvenience as the Thiruvananthapuram-Kozhikode-Thiruvananthapuram Jan Shatabdi Express is set to lose its superfast classification in Jan. The proposed extension of Kottayam–Kollam Memu to Ernakulam also alters the timings of an essential evening service, leading to delays and overcrowding.People who travel between cities for work and education fear that removing the superfast tag from Jan Shatabdi Express could lead to delays and en route detentions, as the train may be accorded lower priority amid line congestion.Many have voiced their displeasure on social media, describing the train as a lifeline for daily travellers. There are also fears that the train may be detained to allow other services to pass on the single-line Ambalapuzha–Ernakulam stretch.Although fares are expected to fall marginally, commuters say they would rather see services speed up across the state.“Passengers travelling by the Jan Shatabdi stand to lose. At the same time, the superfast tag has served little purpose, as the train’s speed has neither increased nor has its travel time decreased,” said Liyons J of Friends on Rails. “It’s surprising that railways want to downgrade a service that has been serving people well,” said commuter J Jeyan.The train has considerable buffer time between stations, which slows it down. Commuters fear this buffer could increase further after the removal of the superfast tag.Liyons said commuters were also facing inconvenience due to the extension of Kottayam–Kollam Memu to Ernakulam. He said that the railway has changed the timing of the train, making it inconvenient for the people who travel in the evening from Kottayam to Kollam.“For decades, this train has been an essential evening service for thousands of daily commuters, including govt employees, office staff, students and public. Employees of the Kottayam collectorate, Mahatma Gandhi University, Medical College Hospital and other institutions particularly depend on this service after their working hours. There is no convenient alternative train after the service operating around 3:30pm until this Memu,” said a petition to the railway ministry.“We do not oppose the proposed extension of the train to Ernakulam Junction. However, such an extension should not be implemented at the expense of existing passengers,” said Liyons.
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