Association demands suburban service between Tiruchi and Thanjavur

The Cauvery Delta Train Passengers Association, Thanjavur, has reiterated its demand for suburban train services during morning and evening on weekdays between Tiruchi and Thanjavur.

According to association secretary V. Jeevakumar, five unreserved passenger trains were being operated on the Thanjavur-Tiruchi electrified double line section from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. from Thanjavur to Tiruchi on weekdays.

The services remained a vital transportation source for commuters hailing from the eight intermediate stations between Thanjavur and Tiruchi during the morning peak hours and in the return direction, four services were available for them between 4:00 p.m. and 8:20 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and 8:55 p.m. at Tiruchi to get back home.

Claiming that the need for quick and safe transportation facility for local commuters had increased in the recent times with developments in industrial and business sectors in Tiruchi and Thanjavur, he said the introduction of suburban services, at least on transit oriented development basis, would be a boon to those hailing not only from Thanjavur or Tiruchi but also from the eight intermediate stations.

With the facility to operate at an average optimal speed of around 50 km per hour, as that of the suburban services at Chennai, one or two suburban services could be chipped in during morning and evening peak hours.

Augmentation of local services would not only be beneficial to the daily commuters but also to the tourists heading to important towns in delta districts and east of Tiruchi, as they can plan their break-in-journey tour programmes comfortably, he added.

A memorandum exhorting Southern Railway to consider the demand for introduction of suburban trains was submitted to the General Manager, Southern Railway, recently wherein pending demands such as laying of additional track between Thanjavur and Villupuram, addressing the comforts of passengers heading or originating from intermediate stations, introduction of more daytime train services on main line section and rail connectivity from Thanjavur to Pattukottai and Ariyalur were also mentioned.

Meanwhile, a meeting of CDTPA members held at Thanjavur on Tuesday, January 27, called for the extension of the Tiruchi-Howrah service up to Vailankanni and the Tiruchi-Palakad service up to Thanjavur.