Maveli express
TheKanyakumari District Railway Users' Association(KDRUA) has renewed their decade-long bid for an overnight train between Kanyakumari and Goa, via Mangalore.P Edward Jeni, secretary of the association said that most of the passengers who commute to Mangalore and Konkan region comprises fishermen, unorganized sector labourers, tourists and students. "In their interests and to benefit the tourist flow between the high tourist potential area of the Konkan coast and Kanyakumari 16603/16604 Mangalore-Trivandrum Maveli express or the 16347/16348 Mangalore - Trivandrum express should be extended to Kanyakumari,'' he added.
The association has already submitted a memorandum to railway minister Pawan Kumar Bansal in this regard.
Pointing out that three overnight express trains that operate daily between Mangalore and Thiruvananthapuram (16347/16348, 16603/16604 and 16629/16630), Maveli Express (16603/16604) can also be extended up to Kanyakumari with halts at Neyyatinkara, Kuzhithurai, Eraniel and Nagercoil.
Buttressing their claim of passenger traffic to sustain extended operations, Jeni said, "The five lakh Christian population in Kerala, equally strong number from Kanyakumari, about four lakh from Tirunelveli district and two lakh from Tuticorin district visit Goa throughout the year either for religious reasons or as tourists. Kanyakumari and Goa are frequented by foreign tourists. The absence of direct daily train between Kanyakumari-Goa is hindering tapping tourism potential in the west coast."
He also demanded a direct train from Vasco-Da-Gama to Kanyakumari via Mangalore, Ernakulam, Thiruvananthapuram and Nagercoil. He said one of the above mentioned existing trains could be extended on either side.
Since 2000, this demand has not been addressed by Thiruvananthapuram division. Even when the division shows willingness, political parties in Kerala are unwilling. Keralities should think of a balanced approach. When Kerala gets extension from Mangalore and Coimbatore, they should also share equally with other states,'' he observed. As of now, trains which connect Goa-Nagercoil thrice a week are from Gujarat- the Gandhidham Nagercoil Weekly Express (16335) and Hapa-Tirunelveli Express (12998).
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mangalore/Demand-for-direct-Goa-Kannyakumari-train-renewed/articleshow/18111898.cms
