Railway division to get MEMU services soon

KOCHI: The much-awaited Mainline Electrical Multiple Units (MEMU) services will be introduced in the Thiruvananthapuram division within three months, Union Minister of State for Food and Civil Supplies K V Thomas has said.“I will discuss with the Union Railway Minister Dinesh Trivedi regarding the MEMU service,” he said after visiting the railway stations in the district on Friday. He said it was not possible to convert the Ernakulam Terminus Station into a suburban passenger service as MEMUs cannot be run from this station.However, K V Thomas said that this station would be converted into a hub for long distance trains.Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Manager Rajesh Agarwal said, “Kochi has a huge amount of potential for passenger traffic and development.The railways will strive to renew the heritage glory of the old railway stations and make it useful for public service.” Agarwal said that the demand for a footover bridge or a pathway for the Tripunithura residents would be sanctioned at the earliest. Footboards, platform roofings and extensive roadways will be considered. The need for a level crossing at the Nettoor railway station will be further studied and better facilities will be provided, he said.Thomas also said that the Edappally railway station would soon earn the status of a ‘satellite’ station, which would see extensive platforms. Reservation and booking counters will be opened at the Amritha Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), he added. He said the Kalamassery railway station has the potential to develop into a railway hub if the Naval Armament Depot hand overs 10 acres of land near the railway station. “If it so happens , it will be possible to station 42 wagons instead of the 14 wagons, which are presently stationed at Kalamassery.”