Single line misery: MEMU schedule goes off track

KOCHI: The Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) train service between Ernakulam and Kollam, which was launched with much fanfare on March 18, has gone off the track within a month with irregular schedules testing the patience of the commuters.According to daily passengers, the service gets delayed for more than an hour at major stations. With heavy traffic in the region and delays at crossings, the Railways is reportedly finding it difficult to keep the schedule.Various passenger associations said it is high time the Railways completed the doubling works. “If the Railways is serious about operating the MEMU services, they should have expedited the process of doubling the line,” said Viju Choolackal, a member of the Karithala Poura Samiti.Ironically, the MEMU services, which are supposed to halt at stations only for less than a minute, are being forced to stop for at least ten to fifteen minutes at many stations.The Railway officials admit that the priority is given to other trains over the MEMU. “No serious planning was done prior to the introduction of these trains,” a Railway official said on conditions of anonymity.“The MEMU trains operating in other parts of the country are very punctual. But, owing to the single-line system here,  the services go awry,” Paul, a passenger, told ‘Express’.“These services are not useful for the daily commuters or for the working class who wish to reach their workplaces in the morning hours.“At present, the MEMUs are scheduled in such a way that the passengers can reach their destinations only in the afternoon,” said another passenger.The chaotic schedule turns out to be a headache for the MEMU loco pilots as well. “In other places, MEMU trains are scheduled to run for a maximum of two hours. Here, one loco pilot is supposed to control the train for four hours at a stretch. It is very risky, because the MEMU is completely hand-controlled,” said a loco pilot.