Coimbatore: Union railway minister Piyush Goyal flagged off three passenger train services in Tamil Nadu through video conferencing from New Delhi on Tuesday. The new services would operate on Coimbatore-Palani, Coimbatore-Pollachi and Karur-Salem stretches.
While the Coimbatore-Palani passenger would be operated daily, the other two passenger services would be operated six days a week. The new train services are intended to improve train connectivity between smaller cities and help people opt trains for short distance travelling. The services were part of 10 ‘Sewa’ trains flagged off by the minister across the country.
Talking to TOI, Salem divisional railway manager U Subbarao, who participated in the flagging off function at Salem railway junction, said the Salem-Karur-Salem DEMU would be operated on all days, except on Sundays. The train would have stoppages at Vangal, Mohanur, Namakkal, Kalangani, Rasipuram and Mallur railway stations. Salem MP S R Parthiban was present at the flagging off function.
Similar functions were held at Coimbatore railway junction and Pollachi railway station to flag off other two services. Coimbatore MP P R Natarajan, Rajya Sabha members A K Selvaraj and S R Balasubramoniam, and Pollachi MP K Shanmugasundaram participated in the events. Palakkad railway divisional manager Pratap Singh Shami was present at the function held in Pollachi.
While both the Coimbatore-Pollachi and Palani-Coimbatore trains were already running, they would now enjoy “permanent” and “regular” status, compared to the earlier temporary status. “This means the services can’t suddenly be stopped or put low on priority list. They do not need continuous extensions every few months,” said A Annadurai, Salem additional divisional railway manager.
The Coimbatore-Palani-Coimbatore passenger train will be operated on all the seven days a week. The Coimbatore-Palani passenger (train no 56609) will leave Coimbatore junction at 1.45pm and reach Palani at 4.40pm. The Palani-Coimbatore passenger (train no 56608) will depart from Palani at 10.45am and reach Coimbatore junction at 2.10pm the same day. The trains will stop at Pushpattur, Madathukulam, Maivadi Road, Udumalaipettai, Gomangalam, Pollachi, Kinattukkadavu and Podanur railway stations.
The Pollachi-Coimbatore-Pollachi passenger will be operated six days a week, except on Sundays. The Pollachi-Coimbatore passenger (train no 56184) will leave Pollachi at 7.30am and reach Coimbatore junction at 8.40am. The Coimbatore-Pollachi passenger (train no 56183) will depart from Coimbatore junction at 5.45am and reach Pollachi at 7.00am.
Subba Rao said they had submitted a written request for five new trains. “Besides the two above trains, we have requested for extension of Coimbatore-Mangaluru intercity train till Madurai, Coimbatore-Guwahati and a Coimbatore-Thoothukudi train via Madurai, so commuters have more options to travel south,” he said.
While the Coimbatore-Palani passenger would be operated daily, the other two passenger services would be operated six days a week. The new train services are intended to improve train connectivity between smaller cities and help people opt trains for short distance travelling. The services were part of 10 ‘Sewa’ trains flagged off by the minister across the country.
Talking to TOI, Salem divisional railway manager U Subbarao, who participated in the flagging off function at Salem railway junction, said the Salem-Karur-Salem DEMU would be operated on all days, except on Sundays. The train would have stoppages at Vangal, Mohanur, Namakkal, Kalangani, Rasipuram and Mallur railway stations. Salem MP S R Parthiban was present at the flagging off function.
Similar functions were held at Coimbatore railway junction and Pollachi railway station to flag off other two services. Coimbatore MP P R Natarajan, Rajya Sabha members A K Selvaraj and S R Balasubramoniam, and Pollachi MP K Shanmugasundaram participated in the events. Palakkad railway divisional manager Pratap Singh Shami was present at the function held in Pollachi.
While both the Coimbatore-Pollachi and Palani-Coimbatore trains were already running, they would now enjoy “permanent” and “regular” status, compared to the earlier temporary status. “This means the services can’t suddenly be stopped or put low on priority list. They do not need continuous extensions every few months,” said A Annadurai, Salem additional divisional railway manager.
The Coimbatore-Palani-Coimbatore passenger train will be operated on all the seven days a week. The Coimbatore-Palani passenger (train no 56609) will leave Coimbatore junction at 1.45pm and reach Palani at 4.40pm. The Palani-Coimbatore passenger (train no 56608) will depart from Palani at 10.45am and reach Coimbatore junction at 2.10pm the same day. The trains will stop at Pushpattur, Madathukulam, Maivadi Road, Udumalaipettai, Gomangalam, Pollachi, Kinattukkadavu and Podanur railway stations.
The Pollachi-Coimbatore-Pollachi passenger will be operated six days a week, except on Sundays. The Pollachi-Coimbatore passenger (train no 56184) will leave Pollachi at 7.30am and reach Coimbatore junction at 8.40am. The Coimbatore-Pollachi passenger (train no 56183) will depart from Coimbatore junction at 5.45am and reach Pollachi at 7.00am.
Subba Rao said they had submitted a written request for five new trains. “Besides the two above trains, we have requested for extension of Coimbatore-Mangaluru intercity train till Madurai, Coimbatore-Guwahati and a Coimbatore-Thoothukudi train via Madurai, so commuters have more options to travel south,” he said.
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