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New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Thirteen years since gauge conversion, no daily train from Tenkasi to Chennai
TENKASI: Thirteen years have passed since the century-old Tirunelveli-Tenkasi railway line was converted into a broad gauge. Till day, there is no daily direct train service from the region to Chennai via Pavoorchatram, Ambasamudram and Tirunelveli, and commuters have to depend on buses. According to the Tenkasi District Rail Users Association, people used to travel on train (Nos. 111/112 ) which was operated between Chennai Egmore and Sengottai/Tenkasi. The service, which was first operated in 1902 was stopped in the late 1980s. President of the association R Pandiaraja recently submitted a petition Southern Railway officials, stating that the current tri-weekly super fast service is inadequate to cater to the needs and demanded a daily servicebetween Tambaram and Sengottai via Virudhachalam, Madurai, Tirunelveli, Ambasamudram, Pavoorchatram and Tenkasi. 'There is no direct service to Chennai on Sundays and no return train from Chennai on Fridays. As a result, people are forced to rely on expensive private buses, paying up to Rs 2,000 or more per trip,' he said. The association pointed out that operating a train via Pavoorchatram, Ambasamudram, and Tirunelveli is not only shorter for Chennai-bound passengers from Tenkasi and Tirunelveli but also provides an overnight link to Madurai, Virudhachalam and Tiruchy. 'The Tirunelveli-Tenkasi line, opened in phases between 1902 and 1903, runs via Cheranmahadevi, Kallidaikurichi, Ambasamudram, Kadayam, and Pavoorchatram at the scenic foothills of the Western Ghats. In the 1997-98 Railway Budget, gauge conversion of the 357-km Kollam-Tirunelveli-Thiruchendur and Tenkasi-Virudhunagar routes was sanctioned at an estimated cost of Rs 712 crore. The Tirunelveli-Tenkasi section was closed for conversion in December 2008 and reopened in September 2012,' said Pandiraja. K Jegan, secretary of the association, said, 'Despite completion of full electrification and track upgrades enabling speed up to 110 kmph, a daily express train to the State capital is yet to be realised. Tatkal quota on Chennai-bound trains like Nellai, Pothigai, Ananthapuri, Kanniyakumari, and Senthur expresses get booked within minutes. More than 300 people remain on waiting list regularly.' When contacted, Madurai Divisional Railway Manager Sharad Srivastava said, 'The proposal for a daily train in the route is under process. The decision has to be taken at the top level.'
Time of India
18-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Railways plans third line on Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil route to run more trains
T'puram: Railways will conduct a survey for a third line on the Thiruvananthapuram-Nagercoil route this financial year. This initiative aims to operate more passenger trains and goods trains in the coming years when EXIM container movement begins by rail at the Vizhinjam port . The final location survey for the project is included in the railway budget for the 2025-26 fiscal, with a nominal amount allocated for preliminary work on the route. The current 71-km line has only a single line, and doubling work is in progress. Railways also allocated around Rs 1,000 crore for the doubling of the line in this year's budget. Sources said that Railways wants to plan ahead so that third line work can begin soon after the doubling is completed, or it can be taken up parallelly. However, the work is included in the budget, and Railways Board will decide how to proceed, said a senior official. The route between Nagercoil and Thiruvananthapuram is already popular among commuters who travel for work and education. The doubling of the line will help increase the speed of trains, ease road congestion, and assist the railways in operating passenger and express trains. The doubling of the Thiruvananthapuram-Kanyakumari work is already underway. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Complete protection with iPru All-in-one Term Plan ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo R Pandiaraja, former member of Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC), Southern Railway, stated that around 50% of the doubling work on the line could be completed this fiscal. "It will help improve the punctuality of trains, and trains can be speeded up. However, we have to wait and see if Railways will increase the number of trains on the route after the doubling is completed," he said. Eward Jeni of Kanyakumari District Railway Users Association said that the railways must be considering a third line on the route because of the Vizhinjam port. "It is considered one of the highly saturated routes. Doubling work is ongoing, but it's a challenging task because of land acquisition issues and tunnels on the route. The doubling and third line will be a boost for container movement from the port and also for passenger traffic," Jeni said. The port will start moving containers by goods trains to other parts of the country when a proposed railway line is built from Balaramapuram to Vizhinjam.
