Passenger groups propose Venad Express schedule change to reduce congestion
A new proposal suggests moving the Venad Express earlier to ease evening travel towards Kottayam and southern Kerala.
Passenger groups have proposed changing the schedule of the Venad Express to reduce evening congestion for travellers moving from Ernakulam towards Kottayam and southern Kerala, according to Urban Acres.
The suggestion involves removing the current waiting time for the Shoranur–Thiruvananthapuram Venad Express (16301) at Angamaly. Under the existing timetable, the train reaches Angamaly around 4 pm and is held until approximately 4.30 pm, reaching Ernakulam Town at 5.15 pm.
The groups suggest the train should reach Ernakulam Town between 4.40 pm and 4.45 pm, departing for Kottayam at 4.50 pm. This would create a larger gap before the 5.25 pm Ernakulam South–Kollam MEMU departs, potentially reducing delays caused by the current five-minute interval between services.
Passengers noted that the MEMU following the Venad Express often waits for signals at Tripunithura, Mulanturutti, and Piravom Road. They stated that moving the Venad Express earlier could allow travellers to reach Kottayam before 6 pm and use its 19 general coaches, which offer more capacity than the 12 general coaches on the MEMU.
The proposal follows changes to the Ernakulam–Kollam MEMU (66315/16) timetable, which passengers say has made evening travel to Kottayam, Chengannur, and Kollam more difficult. They noted that the Kerala Express, which reaches Ernakulam North at 4.30 pm, frequently runs late.
The passenger groups have asked railway divisional authorities to look into the reasons for the Angamaly halt and to consider the timetable adjustment. They have also requested intervention from elected representatives.