John Brittas, MP, has submitted a petition to Union Railway Minister Aswini Vaishnaw on behalf of the Southern Railway Employees Union (CITU), demanding that the Railway retain the diesel loco shed at Ernakulam Junction, in the wake of reports that the shed might have to be closed down in order to develop platforms at the station.

The Railway withdrew seven diesel locos from here, despite directions from the Railway Board to retain diesel locos due to Kochi’s strategic location, the MP said.