Charges on hi-speed track, but superfast trains ply normal time

The Indian railways charging more for superfast trains does not hold water if one goes by the time they take to travel around 330 kilometres from Chennai Egmore to Tirurchirappalli junction. A total of 28 trains bound to the south originate from Chennai Egmore and cross Tiruchy to reach various destinations. 

Of these, 14 are designated superfast while the others are ordinary express trains. Other than trains which take a circuitous route and thus consume more time, at least three ordinary express trains have equal travel time without the superfast tag and thus are cheaper, ticket-wise. 

Among the superfast express trains, Vaigai superfast (SF) express is the fastest covering the 336 kms in 5 hours and 10 minutes. The Pothigai, Pandyan and Nagercoil SF express trains cover the distance in 5 hours 40 minutes while the Pearl City SF express covers it in 5 hours 35 minutes. 

The Kanyakumari SF express covers the distance in 5 hours 20 minutes and the Pallavan SF express does the job in 5 hours 40 minutes. The Thirukural SF express consumes six hours. Among the other express trains, the Guruvayur Express and TN link Express cover the distance in five and half hours while the Rameswaram Express takes five minutes more for the same distance. 

The average speed of Vaigai SF express is 66 kmph, followed by the Kanyakumari SF express at 64 kmph. The other superfast express trains in the route average at 62 kmph, while the speed of Thirukural SF express is 56 kmph. 

Railway officials said that speed and the number of stops were the parameters for a train being designated as superfast. However, with the revision in cancellation charges resulting in a drastic cut in the refunded amount, passengers feel railways should not levy SF surcharge just because a train travels marginally faster than an express train.