Palani Express will now officially run through to Udumalpet and Pollachi
No Train Services between Coimbatore and Madurai/Rameswaram despite the commissioning of the new broad gauge line earlier this year
Over the last 6 months, the train has been reaching the temple town of Srirangam too early in the morning of 3.30 am for the devotee passengers' liking. The train will now leave Chennai Egmore at 11.30 pm instead of 1030 pm and will reach Srirangam at 4.08 am (Trichy Junction at 5.15am). Similarly Mangalore Express which previously departed Egmore at 1015 pm and reached Srirangam at 315 am will now depart at 11.15 pm and reach Srirangam at 3.49am.
The departure timing of both Karaikal bound Kamban Express and Thanjavur bound Uzhavan Express has been preponed by 1hour to 10.15 pm and 1030 pm. Uzhavan Express will now reach Kumbakonam at 455 am.
Madurai bound Pandyan Express will now be 35 minutes faster and will leave Egmore at 940 pm to reach Madurai at 5.55 am.
The Tiruchirapalli bound Rockfort Express from Chennai Egmore has been speeded up by 15minutes while its departure has been postponed by 1 hour effective November 1. Over the last 6months, the train has been reaching the temple town of Srirangam too early in the morning of 3.30am for the devotee passengers liking. The train will now leave Chennai Egmore at 11.30pm instead of 1030pm and will reach Srirangam at 4.30am. Similarly Mangalore Express which previously departed Egmore at 1015pm and reached Srirangam at 315am will now depart at 11.15pm.
The departure timing of both Karaikal bound Kamban Express and Thanjavur bound Uzhavan Express has been preponed by around one hour to 10.05 pm and 10.30 pm . Uzhavan Express will now reach Kumbakonam at 445am.
Madurai bound Pandyan Express will now be 35minutes faster and will leave Egmore at 940pm to reach Madurai before 6am.
Palani Exp extended to Udumalpet/Pollachi
An important formal addition is the extension of Central Palani Express to Pollachi ( in fact it has been extended to Palghat). Over the last year or so, this train had been unofficially extended to Udumalpet and Pollachi with passengers having to buy an unreserved ticket from Palani.
However a big disappointment this time around has been the non introduction of any express trains in the Coimbatore Madurai Rameswaram route. This was once upon a time a very important service with night express trains running full either way on this route. For the last decade or so, there have been no train services from Coimbatore to Madurai via Pollachi and Palani. With the broad gauge conversion complete, one expected the original express and passenger trains to resume on this route but not a single service will run between Coimbatore and Madurai leaving the passengers in the hands of the bus operators.
Chozhan Express remains slow
Also, one expected the Trichy Egmore Main line Chozhan express to be speeded up. Since its re-introduction a few years ago, this train has taken 8 to 8 ½ hours to cover 401 kms via Thanjavur /Kumbakonam/Mayiladuthurai averaging just 45kms per hour on a lean traffic section. This train will be faster by just 20 minutes when it should easily be able to cover the this distance in just over 7 hours given that there are minimal crossings in that section.
Palani Exp to run up to Palakkad
An important formal addition is the extension of Central Palani Express to Pollachi ( in fact it has been extended to Palakkad). Over the last year or so, this train had been unofficially extended to Udumalpet and Pollachi with passengers having to buy an unreserved ticket from Palani.
Biggest Disappointment for Coimbatore
However a big disappointment this time around has been the non introduction of any express trains in the Coimbatore Madurai Rameswaram route. This was once upon a time a very important service with night express trains running full either way on this route. For the last decade or so, there have been no train services from Coimbatore to Madurai via Pollachi and Palani. With the broad gauge conversion complete, one expected the original express and passenger trains to resume on this route but not a single service will run between Coimbatore and Madurai leaving the passengers in the hands of the bus operators.