Kochi: Finally the long pending demand of commuters is going to be a reality. The independent ‘Rajyarani Express’ is set to be deployed in the Thiruvananthapuram-Nilambur section from the middle of November with the Thiruvananthapuram division finally getting rakes for operating the promised service.
What has led to the development is allotment of two modern LHB (Linke Holfmann Busch) rakes for the New Delhi-bound Kerala Express. Upon replacement, the normal rakes currently used will be available for deployment.
Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani assured me omn Tuesday that the independent ‘Rajyarani’ service will be started with the rake,” P V Abdul Wahab MP told DC over phone. “Some more paper works are pending. The railways plan to start the service by November 15.”
Currently, the Rajyarani Link Express (T No 16349/16350), which has eight coaches, is linked along with the Madurai-bound Amrita Express till Shoranur. Thereafter the eight coaches will be attached with the Shornur Nilambur passenger while the Amrita Express will further proceed to Madurai.
Following the heavy demand, the Southern Railway had proposed to the railway board to make the Rajyarani Express an independent train and the same was forwarded to the consideration of the railway time table committee which gave its nod.
Earlier, the division had issued orders for converting two rakes of the Kerala Express (T No 12625/ 12626) to LHB rakes. “T Nos 12625/ 12626 will run with LHB rakes on all Saturdays and Sundays from Thiruvananthapuram from November 4 and all Tuesday and Wednesdays in the return trip. On the remaining five days, the train will be operated with IRS rakes,” said a senior railway official.
