Decks are being cleared for the first Daily Express Train service on the Tiruvarur- Karaikudi rail route in over a decade
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The New Express Train between Chennai and Shengottai will run via Tiruvarur, Pattukottai and Karaikudi
A historical rail route is likely to be revived later this year. For over a decade the Tiruvarur Pattukottai Karaikudi route had been shut down for broad gauge conversion. It was one of the last remaining sections in the Southern Railway that was pending the gauge conversion. In the decades gone by, the Kamban Express used to run from Chennai Egmore to Karaikudi via Tiruvarur and Pattukottai. Starting late evening in Madras the Kamban Express would reach Karaikudi early the next morning running via Mayiladuthurai, Tiruvarur and Pattukottai. But this service remained shut for a large part of the decade gone by.
When the gauge was finally converted to broad gauge, the train travelers were in for a big shock. Only a single passenger train was introduced on this route with the train taking 6 hours to cover a distance of just over 150kms. The reason – There were over 50 unmanned level crossings in this section and the train had to run only at 20kmph on this route. This necessitated the appointment of gate keepers at all these level crossings.
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Finally the decks seem to have been cleared for the introduction of the first express train on this route in over a decade. A Railway Official from Tiruchirapalli Division told this writer that this new express train service is currently pending approval from the Railway Board and that this daily express train between Chennai and Shengottai via Tiruvarur, Pattukottai and Karaikudi is likely to begin operations from the 2nd half of this year.
Once approved, the train is likely to depart from Chennai at around 6pm/7pm and reach Shengottai the next morning at around 7am/8am. This will serve as a great boost to travellers in the Mayiladuthurai and Tiruvarur region. The train will run through Thiruthuraipoondi, Peravurani, Pattukottai, Karaikudi, Manamadurai and Virudanagar. The express train is expected to run at an average speed of 50 KMPH.
With the launch of the first express train on the Tiruvarur – Karaikudi broad gauge rail route, one is hopeful that more express trains and DEMU/MEMU will be introduced in this section over the next 12 months.