Railway Patrons in Kanyakumari Seek Extension of Overnight Trains to Nagercoil
The Kanyakumari District Railway Users’ Association has recently called upon the Railway Ministry to consider extending one of the existing overnight trains between Thiruvananthapuram and Mangaluru Central to either Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, or Tirunelveli. This extension is hoped to provide a convenient travel option for residents in the Kanyakumari region who currently lack an overnight train service to Mangaluru and northern Kerala, beyond Thrissur.
According to P. Edward Jeni, the secretary of the association, people from Kanyakumari who wish to travel overnight to areas beyond Thrissur in Kerala have to first take a bus to Thiruvananthapuram to catch one of the three overnight trains to Mangaluru. Currently, there is only one overnight train from Nagercoil to northern Kerala, while the remaining services are daytime trains.
The residents have specifically requested the extension of any one of the three overnight trains, namely Train Nos. 16347/16348, 16603/16604, or 16629/16630, from Thiruvananthapuram to Mangaluru Central, reaching Nagercoil or Kanyakumari or Tirunelveli. They prefer Train Nos. 16347/16348 due to its convenient timetable.
Mr. Jeni also suggested possible solutions to address terminal congestion at the Nagercoil station. Extending Train No. 06641/06642 Tirunelveli – Nagercoil Express Special to Kochuveli, Train No. 66304/66305 Kollam-Kanniyakumari MEMU to Tirunelveli, and Train Nos. 06433/06428 Thiruvananthapuram – Nagercoil Express Special and 16366 Nagercoil-Kottayam Express to Tirunelveli could alleviate the issue. By implementing these changes, Train No. 16347/16348 Thiruvananthapuram Central-Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram Central daily express could conveniently be extended to Nagercoil.
The residents believe that extending these overnight train services to Nagercoil will greatly benefit the people of Kanyakumari and surrounding areas, providing them with a hassle-free mode of travel to Mangaluru and northern regions of Kerala. This extension would save them from the inconvenience of taking a bus to Thiruvananthapuram to catch an overnight train.
The Kanyakumari District Railway Users’ Association acknowledges that the extension would not only benefit the residents but also enhance connectivity and tourism in the region. They hope that the Railway Ministry will consider their request and work towards implementing the desired changes to better serve the needs of the people.
In conclusion, the Kanyakumari railway patrons have urged the Railway Ministry to extend one of the three overnight trains from Thiruvananthapuram to Mangaluru Central to either Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, or Tirunelveli. This extension would provide a valuable travel option for the residents, allowing them hassle-free access to areas beyond Thrissur in Kerala. The association hopes that the Ministry will give due consideration to their request and ultimately enhance connectivity and convenience for the people of Kanyakumari.
