By The Malabar region in Kerala is facing a serious problem with its railway services. For a long time, people living in this area have been asking for more Mainline Electric Multiple Unit (MEMU) trains. However, their requests are being ignored, and this neglect is making daily travel very hard for thousands of commuters. From students going to colleges to office workers heading to their jobs, everyone in Malabar is feeling the pressure of a broken transport system.
The Growing Need for MEMU Trains in Malabar
MEMU trains are very important for short-distance travel. They move faster than regular passenger trains and can carry many more people because they run on electricity. In Malabar, the number of people who need to travel every day between cities like Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod has grown quickly. But the number of trains has not increased to match this growth.
Most people in the region depend on the few available express trains. Because there are no dedicated MEMU services during peak hours, these express trains become dangerously crowded. People are often forced to stand in tiny spaces or even hang near the doors just to reach their destination on time. For senior citizens, women, and children, this makes the journey a nightmare every single day.
Why Commuters Are Angry
The people of Malabar feel that the railway authorities are showing favoritism toward the southern parts of Kerala. While many MEMU services were launched in regions like Thiruvananthapuram and Kollam, the northern part of the state has been left behind. Recently, the Union Minister announced that more coaches would be added to MEMU trains in Southern Kerala, but no such good news came for Malabar.
This lack of balance has led to many protests. Local passenger associations have been writing letters and holding meetings to explain their struggle. They point out that even though the tracks are electrified and ready, the trains are simply not being sent to this region. Many feel that Malabar is being treated like a second-class citizen when it comes to railway development.
The Impact on Daily Life
The lack of trains affects more than just comfort; it affects the economy and education. When trains are late or too crowded to board, workers reach their offices late, and students miss their classes. Many people have to spend a lot of money on private buses or taxis because they cannot rely on the railway schedule.
Furthermore, the introduction of premium trains like the Vande Bharat Express has sometimes made things worse for the common man. Regular passenger trains are often stopped at stations for a long time to let the faster Vande Bharat pass. This adds more delay to an already slow journey. For someone who travels four hours a day, an extra 30-minute delay is a huge burden.
What Needs to Change?
The solution is simple: the Railway Board needs to approve and launch new MEMU services specifically for the Malabar region. There is a strong demand for a MEMU train that starts early in the morning from Mangaluru and reaches Shoranur, and another one that runs in the opposite direction in the evening. This would act as a lifeline for daily commuters.
Additionally, the existing passenger trains should be upgraded to MEMU rakes to improve speed and capacity. The people of Malabar are not asking for luxury; they are asking for a basic, reliable way to travel to work and school. Until the railway authorities stop this neglect and listen to the voices of the commuters, the struggle in North Kerala will continue.
Commuters in Kerala’s Malabar region continue to face daily travel difficulties due to the lack of MEMU train services. With growing passenger demand between cities like Kozhikode, Kannur, and Kasaragod, overcrowding in existing express trains has become a serious issue. Passenger groups claim northern Kerala is being neglected despite electrified tracks, and they are urging the Railway Board to introduce dedicated MEMU services to improve short-distance travel.
