The Amrit Bharat Express, despite its promise of modern facilities and affordable fares, is currently facing significant backlash from passengers in Kerala, particularly in the northern Malabar region. The new train service, aimed at offering a more accessible travel option, is reportedly running with a large number of empty berths, a stark contrast to the high demand for Vande Bharat trains. This underutilization is primarily attributed to a contentious lack of adequate stops and an unscientific timetable that severely disadvantages commuters in the Malabar area.
While central and state leaders from all parties hold considerable influence in the region, ordinary people in Malabar, especially between Kannur and Kasaragod, continue to endure considerable hardships when it comes to train travel. The Nagercoil-Mangaluru Amrit Bharat Express serves as the latest example of what many perceive as railway negligence towards the region.
Starting its service on January 27, the Nagercoil-Mangaluru (16329/16330) Amrit Bharat Express has a significant number of unbooked sleeper berths. For journeys between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur, there are between 317 and 406 sleeper seats available daily from January 27 to March 24. The return route from Kannur to Thiruvananthapuram shows an even higher vacancy, with up to 567 seats remaining unbooked.
A major point of contention is the discriminatory allocation of stops. While southern Kerala benefits from a higher density of stops over shorter distances, the Malabar region sees lengthy stretches with no scheduled halts. For instance, the stretch between Thiruvananthapuram and Kottayam, covering 133 kilometers, has 10 stops. In stark contrast, the 86-kilometer route between Shoranur and Kozhikode has only two stops: Tirur and Kozhikode. Further north, the 221-kilometer journey from Kozhikode to Mangaluru includes only three stops: Thalassery, Kannur, and Kasaragod.
This pattern of neglect is particularly evident in the omission of six crucial stations between Kannapuram and Kanhangad, namely Kannapuram, Pazhayangadi, Payyanur, Cheruvathur, Nileshwaram, and Kanhangad. This oversight effectively alienates regular passengers from utilizing the new train service.
Beyond the issue of stops, the train’s speed and timetable have also drawn criticism for their lack of scientific rationale. The Amrit Bharat Express maintains high speeds from Thiruvananthapuram but inexplicably slows down considerably upon entering the Malabar region. The journey from Kozhikode to Kannur, for example, takes 40 minutes longer than it would on other express trains.
A striking discrepancy is observed in the travel time between Kasaragod and Mangaluru. According to the timetable, the northbound journey takes three hours, whereas the return journey over the same distance is completed in a mere 37 minutes.
The neglect of Kasaragod is further highlighted by comparing its stop count on the Amrit Bharat Express with other services. While the Eranad Express has 12 stops and the Maveli Express has 10 stops between Kozhikode and Kasaragod, the Amrit Bharat Express has only two. This leaves passengers arriving at Kannur at 12:47 AM, needing to travel towards Kanhangad, stranded until the early morning hours.
In summary, despite offering lower fares (minimum 165 rupees for sleeper, 35 rupees for general class) and modern amenities, the Amrit Bharat Express is failing to serve its intended purpose for passengers. The combination of unscientific stop allocations and an impractical timetable renders the service largely unbeneficial for many, particularly in the Malabar region, raising questions about its operational effectiveness.