Thrissur Railway Passengers' Association, TRPA is the confluence of all the stake holders who are interested in the development of Railway facilities in and around Thrissur. Naturally, all the people who avail Railway facilities from Thrissur and other neighbouring stations are automatically the members of this association. Due to the historic reasons, commuters from Thrissur towards Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Palakkad sides form the active group. TRPA always stands for meeting the public demands and this process is well supported by Railway Men, Political Leaders and the Media in Thrissur. The tireless efforts by TRPA in achieving the long standing basic requirements of Thrissur are well recognised and appreciated by one and all. TRPA is committed to continue its service to the society at large, cutting across all divisions. "Our prime focus is on the sustainable improvement of rail service in the country to world class levels with special emphasis on Thrissur"

Thursday 31 July 2014

Tuesday 29 July 2014

Monday 28 July 2014

Rlys may replace II-class coaches with AC ones

Southern Railway has started replacing old second class sleeper compartments in several express trains with three-tier AC coaches, leading to a less number of second class sleeper coaches in many trains. Sources said that serious talks were taking place at the top level in the railway board to replace all the second class compartments in express and superfast trains with AC coaches within the next five-six years.
To begin with, from Sunday, the S-2 sleeper class coach of the Ernakulam junctionNizamuddin Mangala Express (train no 12617) was permanently replaced with an AC 3-tier coach (marked as B-4). The train had 11 sleeper coaches, three AC three-tier coaches and two AC two-tier coaches. Now, the latest composition is 10 sleeper coaches, four three-tier AC coaches and two AC two-tier coaches.

The second class sleeper ticket charge from Ernakulam to Nizamuddin for a passenger is Rs 925, while a three-tier AC ticket would cost Rs 2,370.

“In effect, the train lost 72 non-AC sleeper berths, preferred by middleclass passengers. Those passengers who had been allotted berths in S-2 compartments were provided space in tatkal quotas on Sunday. However, those who have booked tickets for families will have to travel in separate compartments. We will try to arrange them space in the same compartment though,” said an officer of the office of Ernakulam railway area manager.

Sleeper coaches of two more train running through the state have also been replaced with AC coaches. The S-7 sleeper class coach of the Chennai Egmore–Mangalore Central Express (train no.

16859) was replaced with an AC chair car coach (marked as D-4) from Sunday, while the S-9 sleeper class coach of Mangalore Central–Chennai Egmore Express (train no 16860) would be replaced with a AC chair car coach (marked as D-4) with effect from Tuesday.
“The railway board has brought down the number of second class sleeper coaches being manufactured. At the same time, they are increasing the manufacture of AC coaches. The Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram railway divisions are not sanctioned any new second class sleeper coaches. And we have been directed to replace condemned compartments with three-tier AC coaches one-byone,” said a senior officer from the Palakkad railway division.

This step would mean that luxury journey for a section of people, while additional financial burden for another section. “This would not only ensure better travel facilities, but also give heavy financial benefit for the Railway Board.

The present sleeper coaches would then be used in the passenger trains, removing middle berths,” the officer said.
(Times of India dt 28-7-2014)

Tuesday 15 July 2014

Super Fast

(Mathrubhumi Pathanamthitta dt 2-8-2014)
(Malayala Manorama Kochi dt 20-7-2014)
(Mathrubhumi Kochi 19-7-2014)
(Mathrubhumi Nagaram dt 17-7-2014)
(Mathrubhumi dt 15-7-2014)

Saturday 12 July 2014

Complete basic infrastructure

(Malayala Manorama dt 16-7-2014)
(Mathrubhumi dt 16-7-2014)
(Mathrubhumi Malappuram dt 15-7-2014)
(Mathrubhumi dt 13-7-2014)

Tuesday 8 July 2014

Track doubling through Kottayam won't be derailed, thanks to last interim budget

The meagre allocation to Kerala in Tuesday’s railway budget will not affect Ernakulam-Kottayam- Kayankulam track-doubling.
An amount of Rs. 300 crore had been allotted by the previous UPA government for doubling track through Kottayam in its interim railway budget announced in February. “This amount is sufficient for works scheduled for this year. Track doubling can be speeded up if we get similar allocation in next year’s budget as well,” said Dani Thomas, the Chief Administrative Officer (Construction) of Southern Railway.
Of the Rs. 300 crore, Rs. 212 crore will be spent for acquiring land and the rest for track-laying and related works. Though funds are available, the State government has handed over to the railway only 10 hectares of the 40 hectares of land needed for doubling track through Kottayam. This is the sole major hurdle to track-doubling in the district.
On inordinate delay in commissioning Mulanthuruthy-Piravom section where track doubling is over, Mr Thomas said electrification work is pending and the track would be opened to trains in another two months.
Mr. Thomas said doubling a kilometre of track in the Ernakulam-Kumbalam stretch (in the Ernakulam-Alappuzha-Kayankulam route) requires as much as Rs 20 crore, since there are many bridges in the way. Track doubling through Kottayam costs an average of Rs. 12 crore per km.
President of All Kerala Railway Users’ Association Paul Manvettom welcomed the sector-wise allocation of nominal funds to double track through Alappuzha. Doubling is yet to kick-start through Alappuzha since the State government has not handed over land, neither is it willing to share half the project cost.
The railway had sought 20 hectares of land to double the Ambalapuzha-Haripad track and also invited tenders for the work anticipating that the State government would fast track the process. But that did not happen. Next in line would be doubling the Ernakulam-Kumbalam-Thuravur section, railway sources said.
(The Hindu dt 9-7-2014)

Budget Reaction

(Mangalam dt 9-7-2014)
(Madhyamam dt 9-7-2014)
(Malayala Manorama dt 9-7-2014)
(Malayala Manorama Metro Kochi dt 9-7-2014)
(Mathrubhumi dt 9-7-2014)

Short-haul passengers feel let down

Commuters are at a loss for words after hearing that no MEMU train was allotted for Kerala, said general secretary of Thrissur Railway Passengers’ Association P. Krishnakumar in his reaction to the Railway Budget.
“Fifteen express trains are set to become superfast trains within a week and their number of stops in Kerala will be reduced. In the absence of MEMU trains at convenient timings, this will put short-distance commuters in a fix.”
“Even worse, Mysore has now taken the place of Ernakulam in the high-speed railway corridor that was to link it with Coimbatore, Chennai and Bangalore. With next to nothing for Kerala, we can only hope that the railway will augment the number of coaches in congested short-distance trains,” Mr Krishnakumar said.
(The Hindu, Kochi dt 9-7-2014)
(Janayugom dt 9-7-2014)

Sunday 6 July 2014

Hopes of Thrissur

(Madhyamam dt 8-7-2014)
(Madhyamam dt 7-7-2014)
(Mathrubhumi dt 7-7-2014)

Saturday 5 July 2014

Friday 4 July 2014

56608 Passenger

(Malayala Manorama dt 5-7-2014)

Budget Hopes

Kerala hopes for `ache din' on rails

Kochi: In Kerala, happiness over railway budget announcements is a rare phenomenon with the state coming to terms with its disappointments time and again.
If sources within the railways, who swear by the `ache din aane wale hain' tag, are to be believed it will be a different scenario this year and the state will get a better deal when minister Sadananda Gowda presents his budget. But sceptical senior railway officers said that the budget will be a blessing only if funds are allotted for bettering infrastructure.
“It is likely that the Rapid Rail Transit System (RRTS) between Thiruvananthapuram and Chengannur will be given the green light. The doubling of Mangalore-Shoranur stretch is over and there are chances that a new daily train would be announced on the stretch. The Modi government is expected to give emphasis on strengthening infrastructure with technology adoption and modernization,“ said a top officer from the Thiruvananthapuram railway division.
Minister Aryadan Mohammed said the government is hoping for central aid for doubling works. “We haven't got any assurance from the Centre. We hope we will get some funds for doubling works, automatic signalling system, MysoreThalassery and Nilambur-Nanjangud lines, Palakkad coach factory and Cherthala wagon factory ,“ he said.
However, barring financial assistance for doubling, no major projects announced in the earlier budgets would be granted considerable financial assist ance. “ As the track occupancy is 120%, the introduction of daily express trains is impractical. However, the Centre may sanction one or two weekly trains for northern Kerala,“ the officer said.
Almost all projects announced decades ago have come to a halt due to fund crunch and the lack coordination between state and railway authorities.
“Land acquisition is the major problem here. It took more than 11 years to construct a 20-km-long stretch of the second track on the Ernakulam-Mulanthuruthy stretch, while other states do it within 4 years,“ he said.
Another officer pointed out that the state could increase its track connectivity by less than 20% over the past 60 years. “This shows the importance of improving basic infrastructure. While politicians and changing governments queued up for mega projects that are difficult to introduce in a densely-populated state, the infrastructure was left unnoticed,“ he said.
The doubling of Ernakulam-Kayamkulam and Ernakulam-Kottayam lines is yet to get a much-needed boost from the state government. It is to be noted that after 11 years, only 20 km and 18 km have been doubled on the Kottayam and Alappuzha route respectively . Authorities said traffic on a line could be increased eight-fold if doubling is over.
This will multiply if automatic signalling system is also introduced. Another long-pending infrastructure issue is the track electrification from Shoranur to Mangalore. The work taken up in two phases has been moving at a snail's pace.
(Times of India dt 8-7-2014)

Railway Budget: State hopes for a fair deal

Will the change of guard at the Centre and the “next door” Union Railway Minister D.V. Sadananda Gowda help Kerala accomplish the aspirations for the development of the railway network of the State and put an end to the neglect meted out over the years?
Rail users and officials in Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad divisions are hoping that Kerala will get a better deal in the maiden Railway Budget being presented by Mr. Gowda in the Lok Sabha on July 8.
Peninsular zone
The big question doing the rounds is whether Mr. Gowda will announce the long-pending formation of the Peninsular Railway Zone for Kerala.
Railway sources said the zone is likely to be a compensation for the bifurcation of the truncated Palakkad railway division for creating a new division in Mangalore.
The State had followed the homework done in November last by prioritising the needs of the rail network and seeking more funds after the BJP came to power.
CM writes to Modi
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy had personally written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Mr. Gowda in May on the immediate needs.
It is learnt that the State did not give an exhaustive list or memorandum on the railway development as in November last for consideration in the Railway Budget.
Priority list
Official sources said the Chief Minister had personally taken up the critical projects identified with the Union Railway Minister during his visit to New Delhi. The priority list of pending projects and railway works was circulated among the MPs from the State at a pre-budget meeting convened here on June 27.
The State is hopeful of an enhanced allocation for the sanctioned projects in addition to new projects and trains this time like when BJP leader O. Rajagopal was Minister of State for Railways in the Vajpayee government.
Last budget
The State was given a meagre allocation and a poor deal in terms of new projects and trains in the 2013-14 Railway Budget and in the interim budget presented in February before the Lok Sabha elections.
The resource crunch faced by the Railways will be reflected in the budget to be presented by Mr. Gowda. The Railways had been demanding 50 per cent cost sharing for new projects and the Public-Private- Partnership mode even for doubling and laying new railway lines, the sources said.
(The Hindu dt 7-7-2014)
(Mathrubhumi dt 7-7-2014)
(The Hindu dt 6-7-2014)
(The Hindu dt 5-7-2014)

Thursday 3 July 2014

Protest Dharna

(Mathrubhumi dt 5-7-2014)
(Madhyamam dt 5-7-2014)
(Malayala Manorama dt 5-7-2014)

(Thrissur MP Shri.C.N. Jayadevan inaugurating the Protest Dharna on 4-7-2014 at Thrissur Railway Station. Shri.P.A.Madhavan MLA, Shri.K.Radhakrishnan TDA Chairman & Prof.M.Muralidharan are also seen)