TRAIN SERVICES IN MAIN LINE VIA MAYILADUTHURAI
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/neglect-of-main-line-irks-commuters-association/article8368041.ece
Neglect of main line irks commuters’ association
Rail users and commuters are sore over the apparent neglect of the Main Line connecting Tiruchi and Villupuram via Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, and Mayiladuthurai and are now urging the Railway Ministry to take a look at their genuine demands that could bolster the railway revenues.
Even during the recent Mahamaham, when more than 60 lakh pilgrims from various parts of the State congregated in Kumbakonam, the Railways’ efforts in meeting the passenger demands were found wanting, they said.
Pointing out that a special train between Tiruchi and Bagat-Ki-Kothi (Jodhpur) (06208) was operated on Tuesday via Vridhachalam although there was no particular demand from the passengers, vice-president of the Thanjavur District Rail Users’ Association A. Giri says out of 936 sleeper class berths made available for reservation in that train, only 51 were booked from Tiruchi and another 127 from Chennai leaving 758 berths vacant accounting for 12 per cent occupancy.
Whereas Mannargudi-Bagat-ki-Kothi Weekly Express (16864) left Mannargudi on Monday with a passenger waitlist of over 50 reflecting the higher patronage and demand on that route via Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai Main Line, he says.
The railways did not heed the demand for a special train between Tiruchi and Raichur via Thanjavur and Kumbakonam for facilitating pilgrims visiting Mantralayam for Pattabishekam rituals and Raghavendra Jayanthi.
During Mahamaham, Southern Railway operated only a few express services from Chennai and one each from Rameswaram and Nagercoil and most of the services reached Kumbakonam during odd hours. That was despite the reservation for tickets reaching the saturated levels three months ahead of the festival and the apathy was there for all to see.
The attitude of the Railways towards Mahamaham was disappointing. Neither infrastructure was developed nor adequate services operated, says Secretary of All Traders' Association V. Sathyanarayanan.
Others point out that only about a dozen pairs of shuttle service were operated between Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai during the peak Mahamaham festival period despite the region’s rail enthusiasts raising the issues connected to Mahamaham requirements since 2013.
Even the pleas by region’s MPs and elected representatives did not find favour with the Railways, they said. The commuters allege that there has been a long-standing deprivation of additional services on the Main Line as the Railways preferred the Chord Line via Ariyalur and Vriddhachalam instead of Thanjavur and Kumbakonam and wanted that issue addressed to dispel the notion of neglect nursed by the delta region.
The plea to operate the extended Puducherry-Mangaluru Central Weekly Express via Main Line was not met. If operated through the Main Line, the service would provide a direct link from Karaikal to Mahe. more
Neglect of main line irks commuters’ association
Rail users and commuters are sore over the apparent neglect of the Main Line connecting Tiruchi and Villupuram via Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, and Mayiladuthurai and are now urging the Railway Ministry to take a look at their genuine demands that could bolster the railway revenues.
Even during the recent Mahamaham, when more than 60 lakh pilgrims from various parts of the State congregated in Kumbakonam, the Railways’ efforts in meeting the passenger demands were found wanting, they said.
Pointing out that a special train between Tiruchi and Bagat-Ki-Kothi (Jodhpur) (06208) was operated on Tuesday via Vridhachalam although there was no particular demand from the passengers, vice-president of the Thanjavur District Rail Users’ Association A. Giri says out of 936 sleeper class berths made available for reservation in that train, only 51 were booked from Tiruchi and another 127 from Chennai leaving 758 berths vacant accounting for 12 per cent occupancy.
Whereas Mannargudi-Bagat-ki-Kothi Weekly Express (16864) left Mannargudi on Monday with a passenger waitlist of over 50 reflecting the higher patronage and demand on that route via Kumbakonam and Mayiladuthurai Main Line, he says.
The railways did not heed the demand for a special train between Tiruchi and Raichur via Thanjavur and Kumbakonam for facilitating pilgrims visiting Mantralayam for Pattabishekam rituals and Raghavendra Jayanthi.
During Mahamaham, Southern Railway operated only a few express services from Chennai and one each from Rameswaram and Nagercoil and most of the services reached Kumbakonam during odd hours. That was despite the reservation for tickets reaching the saturated levels three months ahead of the festival and the apathy was there for all to see.
The attitude of the Railways towards Mahamaham was disappointing. Neither infrastructure was developed nor adequate services operated, says Secretary of All Traders' Association V. Sathyanarayanan.
Others point out that only about a dozen pairs of shuttle service were operated between Thanjavur and Mayiladuthurai during the peak Mahamaham festival period despite the region’s rail enthusiasts raising the issues connected to Mahamaham requirements since 2013.
Even the pleas by region’s MPs and elected representatives did not find favour with the Railways, they said. The commuters allege that there has been a long-standing deprivation of additional services on the Main Line as the Railways preferred the Chord Line via Ariyalur and Vriddhachalam instead of Thanjavur and Kumbakonam and wanted that issue addressed to dispel the notion of neglect nursed by the delta region.
The plea to operate the extended Puducherry-Mangaluru Central Weekly Express via Main Line was not met. If operated through the Main Line, the service would provide a direct link from Karaikal to Mahe. more
Viewed by 88
yes,the main line has always been a neglected route.I remember in my school days there used to be more shuttle trains on the metre gauge and also during Mahamagham and CHIDAMBARAM Arudra Darisanam.After gauge conversion the railways were jolted into action to start services after inordinate delay by threat of contempt of court by High Court and VM station master quietly flagged off the train.Just look at the time table for running time given to Chendur Express between MV and KMU a mere 35 kms and you can realise that a goods train may travel faster than this !The difference in length of Main and Chord lines is less than 40 kms and yet all traffic is concentrated in chord line.Main line also needs to be doubled atleast in patches to begin with so that while giving relief to coastal passengers traffic on chordline will also be eased. more
Apr 09
Uzhavan express racks are kept idle whole day at Thanjavur station. This could either be used to run Thanjavur - Thiruvannamalai express which will connect that thanjavur district with thiruvannamalai district and vellore district. or for runing a day train between thanjavur and chennai. Likewise CBE-MQ-CBE chemmozhi exp (16615/16616) rakes could be utilised to run a day train from MQ to CBE which will benefit both passengers and railways. It could leave by 8.30 or 9 am Mannargudi and reach cbe by 4 pm and likewise from CBE by 12 noon or 12.30 pm to reach mannargudi by 7 or 7.30 pm. There is also a persistant demand for day janshadapti leaving Mayiladuthurai by 7 am reaching cbe by 1.30pm and leaving cbe by 2.15 pm and reaching mayiladuthurai by 8.45 p.m more
Mar 31
Yes the age old main line between Villupuram and Thanjavur is contine to be neglected by the railways. This section is passenger predominant fetching high ticket revenue to the Southern Railways. Many stations in this section is of A grade and aadharsh stations. Three important branch lines forms part of this Main line viz Mayiladuthurai-Tiruvarur-Karaikudi, Thanjavur -Karaikal/Velanganni, Cuddalore Jn- Vridhachalam apart from Needamangalam-Mannnargudi - a sub-branch line. Traffic in this single line section is almost saturated and a fitting section for doubling. more
Mar 18
