Express fare for 100km in 2.5 hours riles passengers

COIMBATORE: The Salem division of Southern Railway resumed Erode-Coimbatore MEMU service on April 1 as a special train after a two-year break and is collecting express ticket fares. Passengers complain that though the express fare is collected, the journey time for the 100 km distance remains 2.45 hours.

Passengers welfare associations point out that buses cover the distance in two hours and appealed to railways to reduce the running time by at least 30 minutes. Erode Season Ticket Train Passengers welfare association secretary A Mahalingam said, “The train starts at Erode at 7.15 am and reaches Coimbatore at 9.45 am. Students and office goers benefit the most. The train arrives in Coimbatore north railway station at 9.15 but reaches Coimbatore junction around 9.45 am. The 30-minute delay makes it difficult to reach the destination on time. In the return journey, it leaves Coimbatore junction at 6.45 pm and reaches Erode at 9.20 pm after a halt at Thottipalayam.”