Six Special Trains Operating in Kerala to Be Converted into Regular Services; Ticket Fares to Reduce
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw has informed Union Minister George Kurian that approval has been granted to soon convert six special train services operating in Kerala into regular services.
The trains to be converted into permanent services are: Kollam–Visakhapatnam Express, Palakkad–Kannur Express, Kannur–Kozhikode Express, Ernakulam–Kollam MEMU, Thiruvananthapuram North–Mangaluru Junction Antyodaya Express, and Ernakulam–Velankanni Special. With this change, ticket fares for these trains are expected to decrease.
In addition to the existing twice-a-week Ernakulam–Velankanni service, a new Ernakulam–Velankanni service will also be introduced. The train will operate via Kottayam, Kollam, Sengottai, and Madurai. The Thiruvananthapuram–Mangaluru Antyodaya and Kollam–Visakhapatnam trains currently operate as weekly services.
Meanwhile, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar responded to the development by expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for taking immediate action on his request.