THOOTHUKUDI: With the safety clearance for services in the newly converted broad gauge line between New Aryankavu and Edamon in the Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli-Tenkasi-Kollam section awaited in a month, the Southern railway general manager (GM), R K Kulshrestha assured to consider the demand for a new train between Thoothukudi and Kollam.
Commencing his inspection in the Thoothukudi-Vanchimaniyachi-Virudhunagar-Madurai section at Thoothukudi on Tuesday, the GM said that the Commissioner of Railway safety (CRS) has completed the safety inspection and speed trial with a diesel locomotive last month in the newly converted broad gauge line for 22-km between New Ariyankavu and Edamon, the last part of the eight year long gauge conversion project-Virudhunagar-Tenkasi/ Tiruchendur-Tirunelveli-Tenkasi-Shengottai-Punalur-Kollam.
The GM said that the safety clearance to operate service in the section is expected in a month. Responding in particular to the demand of Thoothukudi District Railway Passengers Welfare Association for a daily train to Kollam from Thoothukudi, he said he would positively consider the demand.
Moreover, reacting to the demand to operate the passenger trains between Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi bypassing Vanchimaniyachi station so as to reduce the travel timing by 30 minutes, the chief operational manager of Southern Railway,
S. Anantha Raman, who accompanied Kulshreshtha during the inspection said, “we are well aware of this long pending demand and have studied the passenger patronage for the train services in the section.”
