Extension of the overnight Mannargudi – Coimbatore ‘Chemmozhi’ Express train up to Pollachi.

The Salem Railway Division has submitted a proposal to the Railway Board seeking extension of the overnight Mannargudi – Coimbatore ‘Chemmozhi’ Express train up to Pollachi.

The suggestion of Salem Division follows the opening of the Coimbatore – Pollachi track after completion of the broad gauge conversion works recently. The proposal, if given a favourable consideration, will benefit the commuters of both the western and central districts.

The Chemmozhi Express was introduced in 2013.

The train departs Mannargudi at 8.15 p.m.; Thanjavur at 9.15 p.m.; Tiruchi 10.45 p.m. and reaches Coimbatore Junction at 4.45 a.m. covering a distance of about 335 km in 8 hours and 30 minutes. In the return direction, the train departs Coimbatore Junction at 12.30 a.m.; Tirupur 1.15 a.m.; Erode 2.05 a.m.; Tiruchi 5 a.m.; Thanjavur 6.15 a.m. and arrives at Mannargudi at 7.55 a.m.

The commuters of both the central and western districts complain that the timings of this train are not passenger-friendly. The people of central districts take advantage of this train to reach destinations such as Erode, Tirupur, besides Coimbatore. But the Mannargudi – Coimbatore ‘Chemmozhi’ express reaches Erode at 2.25 a.m. and Tirupur at 3.13 a.m. The same is the problem in the return direction too. The train leaves Coimbatore junction in the odd hours of 12.30 a.m. It arrives and leaves at Tirupur and Erode stations too in the odd hours. The departure of this train after 12 in the midnight caused confusion to the commuters making advance ticket booking in mentioning the date of travel.

A cross section of the commuters of western belt have urged the Railways to revise the timings of this train. They have urged the Railways to delay the arrival time of the train in Erode, Tirupur and Coimbatore junction by an hour or two.

Similarly, the departure of this train at 12.30 a.m. is also not favoured by a majority of the commuters. Not only the people of Coimbatore, but also of Tirupur and Erode districts prefer this train for reaching the central districts of Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Nagapattinam and Tiruvarur. But this train departs Tirupur at 1.15 a.m. and Erode at 2.05 a.m., the timings which are not passenger friendly.

Source:http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/extend-chemmozhi-express-train-up-to-pollachi/article19825816.ece