Three train services in Kerala to be privatised

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Three train services in Kerala are among the 109 notified for privatisation by the Railways.
The trains are Kochuveli-Guwahati (thrice in a week), Chennai-Mangalore (weekly) and Ernakulam-Kanyakumari (daily). Each train shall have a minimum of 16 coaches.
The Chennai-Mangalore train will start from Chennai at 7.10pm on Tuesdays and reach Mangalore Junction at 11am on Wednesdays.The return journey will start from Mangalore Junction at 5.05pm on Wednesdays and reach Chennai at 8.30am on Thursdays.
The daily train service from Kanyakumari will leave at 6am and reach Ernakulam at 12 noon. The train from Ernakulam will start at 2pm and reach Kanyakumari at 8.30pm.
The Kochuveli-Guwahati service will start at 2.30pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and reach Guwahati at 4am on Mondays, Tuesdays and Sundays. The train from Guwahati will leave at 11.50pm on Sundays, Mondays and Tuesdays and reach Kochuveli at 3.10pm on Thursdays, Fridays and Wednesdays.
The operation of trains, except the loco pilot and guard, will be handled by a private entity for a concession period of 35 years.