Passengers were thrilled as the Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat special train began its service on Wednesday, fulfilling a long-term demand. However, many believe the service should be permanent and have raised concerns about the return schedule. The Bengaluru-Ernakulam (06002) Vande Bharat, starting at 5:30 am from Bengaluru Cantonment (BNC), is seen as inconvenient due to heavy traffic and accessibility issues.
Liyons J from the passenger collective ‘Friends on Rails’ suggests a 6 am start time and a shift to the Majestic (SBC) railway station for better convenience. K J Paul Manvettam, president of the All Kerala Railway Passengers Association, also advocates for the Majestic station, citing its metro connectivity. He emphasizes the need for the train to operate daily.
Critics argue the Vande Bharat train serves primarily the elite, with calls for the inclusion of general compartments to accommodate the common man. Liyons notes the demand for Vande Bharat services with more accessible options for all passengers.
According to Southern Railway, the train operates as a special service due to high demand, with plans for permanent service in the future, though no timeline has been specified.
Special Service Schedule:
- 06001 Ernakulam–Bengaluru (Wed, Fri, Sun): Ernakulam (12:50 pm), Thrissur (1:53 pm), Palakkad (3:15 pm), Pothanur (4:13 pm), Tirupur (4:58 pm), Erode (5:45 pm), Salem (6:33 pm), Bengaluru Cantonment (10:00 pm).
- 06002 Bengaluru–Ernakulam (Thu, Sat, Mon): Bengaluru Cantonment (5:30 am), Salem (8:58 am), Erode (9:50 am), Tirupur (10:33 am), Pothanur (11:15 am), Palakkad (12:08 pm), Thrissur (1:18 pm), Ernakulam (2:20 pm).