The Hindu : Front Page : Operate more trains in Tiruchi-Nagore section

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Sunday, Apr 26, 2009
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Operate more trains in Tiruchi-Nagore section

Syed Muthahar Saqaf

For the benefit of devotees visiting Tirunallar
Attachment of more compartments needed

TIRUCHI: Residents of the central districts have urged the railways to take effective initiatives for operating more trains in the Tiruchi-Nagore section with immediate effect for the benefit of the devotees visiting the religious places of Tirunallar, Velankannai and Nagore.

They have also demanded attachment of more compartments in the already running trains.

The railways, ever since the newly laid BG track in the Tiruvarur-Nagore section was thrown open for traffic two months ago, is operating only four passenger trains — three from Tiruchi to Nagore and another from Thanjavur to Nagore in a day.

Compared to the heavy flow of devotees arriving from various parts of southern States to these three religious centres and also from the central districts, the four train services are totally inadequate. These trains are always jam-packed and it has become virtually impossible for the commuters to get into these trains en route, lament a cross section of the travelling public.

Prior to the closure of the BG works, the railways operated many trains from Tiruchi and Thanjavur round the clock. At least five trains plied from Thanjavur alone, they point out. Late night trains from both the directions will be of immense help to devotees, they argue.

The railways was also operating overnight express trains from Chennai and Mysore to Nagore. While the Mysore Express has been diverted to Mayiladuturai and there is no sign of reintroduction of the train to Chennai. The former Minister of State for Railways, R.Velu assured to ply a few compartments from Nagore to Chennai attaching them with the Rockfort Express, but that has not been done so far.

The railways should operate express train from Tiruchi to Nagore. An express train with the compartments of Rockfort Express was introduced from Tiruchi to Madurai a few months ago, but was withdrawn within 20 days, owing to poor response. These compartments could be utilised for running the Tiruchi – Nagore express train, says N. Ramakrishnan, Coordinator of the Federation of Welfare Organisations.

The railways, in the 2008 budget, also announced the extension of the Bangalore – Salem passenger to Nagore after the completion of gauge conversion works on the Villupuram – Mayiladuturai and Mayiladuturai-Tiruvarur sections.

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