Indian Railways' projects in Tamil Nadu

[dr_thapalathy]

Originally Posted by srinath

Can any one let me know why they have preferred Chennai Madurai Duronto Express via Erode Karur.

The only advantage is for the prople who are travelling in Buses, can prefer duronto for safety reasons.

If they have run the train in the trunk line or in main line, it would have been better. Anyway something is better than nothing.

Originally Posted by dineshderick

THE ONLY STUPID REASON WHICH THE SR GIVES IS
This route has Fully DL FE.

Originally Posted by KSRaj

This is because Chordline (via Vridhachalam, Trichy) is a single-line from Chengalpattu to Dindigul and heavily congested during night hours. So, running a non-stop duronto on this already congested single line will be near to impossible. Maybe in future, after doubling, it can be run via Trichy.

Even if via Erode, the fares would be competitive to attract the segment using omni-buses and last minute travellers.
Cheers,
Raj

I think, after Madurai - Chennai becomes FEDL, then SR will be pressurized to operate this train via Chord Line and to increase it's frequency.
Anyways, this timings and route, itself will give a big blow to the omni bus operators.

[isham_9626]

The Diesel Loco Shed here has become the first railway shed in Southern Railway zone to home EMD-type high horsepower diesel locomotives.

Of the 15 EMD locos allotted to the Tiruchi shed by the Railway Board, two new engines were formally commissioned on Friday making it a red letter day for the over 30-year-old shed. The rest of the locomotives would be sent in batches over the next eight months.

Manufactured at the Diesel Loco Works, Varanasi, based on the transfer of technology from General Motors, USA, the two locos would be utilised for hauling freight wagons from Karaikal Port to various destinations. Equipped with micro processors, the 4,500 horsepower EMD locos are longer than the ‘Alco' diesel locomotives with higher fuel and lube oil capacity. The EMD locos have better fuel efficiency than the conventional engines.

The new locos, each weighing 126 tonnes, can run at a maximum speed of 120 kilometres per hour. The EMD locos are sent for periodic overhaul once in 18 years, unlike Alco engines which are sent for overhaul once in eight years.

The Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi P.V. Vaidialingam told ‘The Hindu' that the Tiruchi Diesel Loco Shed was the first in Southern Railway zone to home EMD locos. The other diesel loco sheds are located at Tondiarpet in Chennai, Erode and Ernakulam. The new locos would be sent for field trials before being deployed for operation, he added.

Infrastructure facilities would be created at a cost of Rs.14 crore to maintain the EMD locos at the Tiruchi shed, which homes over 120 locomotives including 85 broad gauge diesel engines at present. Senior officials of the shed were present on the occasion.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/...cle2150993.ece

[dineshderick]

Important Railway Projects, that may have given economic boost to Tamilnadu,have not been envisaged properly by the erstwhile Governments that ruled India. Connectivity is a major factor for the economic well being of a place. Because of better railway connectivity Maharastra state and expecially Mumbai, is able to grow fast. Some of the important railway projects, especially rail connectivity for Tamilnadu, is discussed here:

[1] The industrial growth in southern districts of Tamilnadu is battered by the non availability of proper rail link. The entire southern strech from Kanyakumari to Chennai has to be double lined and electrification must be done.

[2] East coast link between Kanyakumari and Chennai via Valliyur, Radhapuram, Kudankulam, Udangudi, Tiruchendur, Thuthukudi, Sayalkudi, Ramanathapuram, Pattukottai,(Vellankannai) Nagapattinam, Cuddalore, Puducherry, Marakkanam, Mahabalipuram and Thiruvanmiyur.

[3] Theni is the only district in Tamilnadu which is not having direct rail link with Chennai. Gudalur-Cumbum-Uthamapalayam-Theni-[Bodinayakanur] -Periyakulam-Batalagund-Dindigual-Trichy-Villupuram-Chennai route has to be laid. During early 1960's the project has been initiated and Government even had started acquiring land for Railways. Later for no reasons the Project was dropped. This railway link will be a boon for

•Tourist coming to see Munnar, Periyar wild life Sanctuary, Silent Valley, and Kodaikanal
•The Cardomom business will flourish in Bodinayakanur, Cumbum and Uthamapalayam
•Cotton mills and more engineering industries will come in and around Theni and Periyakulam area
[4] Conversion of existing Maduri-Bodinayakanur narrow gauge into Broad gauge and extension of Pandian and/ or Vaigai Express to run between Bodinayakanur-Theni-Madurai-Chennai.

[5] A direct rail link between Madurai and Trichy via Melur-Thuvarankurichi-Viralimali and Trichy which will ease the traffic congestion in Trichy-Dindugul-Madurai sector. Most of the south bound trains from Chennai will by pass Dindugul.

[6] Linking Manamadurai and Virudunagar and allowing south bound trains from Chennai to by-pass Madurai

[7] A direct, NEW, rail link connecting Thuthukudi with Kollam / Kochi (East-West corrider).This will enable Thuthukudi to become a RAILWAY JUNCTION'. Thuthukudi-Pudukottai-Vagaikulam {aerodrome}-Vallanadu-Palayamkottai-Nellai-Tenkasi-Kollam. However, SR is under taking BG conversion between Tirunelveli-Kollam route.

1.Train to run between Cuddalore and Coimbatore via Virudachalam-ulunthurpettai,Kallakurichi, and Salem
2.Train to run between Tambaram and Kalyan via Chengelpet , Mangalore and Kongan railway.
3.Another Super Fast day express to run between Nagercoil and Chennai or Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai.
4.Super Fast express to run between Thuthukudi-Coimbatore-Bengaluru and extended beyoun unto Mumbai.
5.Passenger train between Rameswaram and West Indian destinations via Coimbatore
6.Express train to link Varanasi or North Indian pilgrimage destinations with Rameswaram
7.Express Train to run between Karaikudi-Trichy-Karur-Coimbatore-Benagluru.
[8] A new connectivity between Thanjavur and Ariyalur which will enable Thanjavur to have a more or less direct rail link with Chennai.

[9] Introduction of MRTS facility in Madurai and Coimbatore.

source

[chidambaram_mech04]

Originally Posted by dr_thapalathy

I think, after Madurai - Chennai becomes FEDL, then SR will be pressurized to operate this train via Chord Line and to increase it's frequency.
Anyways, this timings and route, itself will give a big blow to the omni bus operators.

The Time when Chennai-Madurai Becomes FEDL the demand would have further doubled and Omni bus operators will keep on filling his pockets.

[rsubbu.mdu]

Originally Posted by isham_9626

The Diesel Loco Shed here has become the first railway shed in Southern Railway zone to home EMD-type high horsepower diesel locomotives.

Already work apace to electrify till Mdu and then on to Tuti, these EMD locos have arrived a bit late on the scene. It will be good if SR thinks of adding electric locos to GOC.

[gvijayan]

Originally Posted by dineshderick

7.Express Train to run between Karaikudi-Trichy-Karur-Coimbatore-Benagluru.

source

What an innovative route!

[dr_thapalathy]

I just got a chance to see the function hosted at Puducherry Railway station by Congress people to welcome the Puducherry – New Delhi Express here at Puducherry R.S. There were few things that didn’t change and few things extra ordinary.

As usual it was like a political party function. There were flags of Congress all over the station. There were two banners outside the station, one for Rangaswamy and one for Narayanaswamy. And as usual, laddoos were distributed. Bands were played while the train entered the station.

But I just got a feeling of seeing a cricket match at a stadium, where there are lot of visitors, media persons etc, but the actual players are very few in nos ( few people were there at the train, who got down at Puducherry, but most of them were from AC Compartments). The station platform was too crowded, that the travellers had no space to go out of the station. Some media persons got into the train at Villupuram and took video of the platform from the train (ivalo paithiakara thanama irupangala??? ). When Narayanaswamy came to the station to distribute laddoos, police force, party workers and other persons eager to get OC Laddoos, were blocking the platform entrance. So, people were forced to move only from one side. (This scenario was just like people rushing towards the entrance of a theater screen, on the very first day of a movie screening)

Now, coming about the train, due to overcrowd, I failed to notice the Loco model, but it was a AC Loco. The rakes, as known were operated by NR. All the 15 coaches are brand new (hope they don’t get spoiled very soon). I didn’t see even a single reservation chart pasted in any of the compartments. Any reasons for that?

[Arul Murugan]

This train does not stop at Villupuram and SR is waiting for another laddoo deal with local sweet vendors so that separate function can be arranged and lakhs crore can be spent for stop introduction.

This train should have gone all the way via Villupuram, Thiruvanamalai, Katpadi, Gudur instead via Chennai!

Actually TN gvt learnt from this SR, how they should be Chennai centric.

SR policy! if anyone in Tirunelveli wants to travel to Bengaluru, he can take Nellai express to Chennai and then take Brindavan express to Bengaluru....

but in project case, there is no step mother treatment from SR.. equally all the projects will be delayed.

[isham_9626]

Originally Posted by rsubbu.mdu

Already work apace to electrify till Mdu and then on to Tuti, these EMD locos have arrived a bit late on the scene. It will be good if SR thinks of adding electric locos to GOC.

Hi subbu,

These EMD locos are especially brought to SR for freight services. Because SR is contributing more revenue in frieghts than other zones in IR. Currently our diesel locos are capable of pulling 38 to 40 wagons. But these EMD locos are capable enough to pull more than 50 wagons with less maintanence. These EMD locos can put for maintenance in every 18 years but our old locos has to be maintained every 8 years once.

[wlbkng]

Originally Posted by gvijayan

What an innovative route!

SR is know for such innovative routes. In 2008 I travelled to Coimbatore in Chennai-Mangalore train, which started at Egmore then went via Trichy - Coimbatore and then to Mangalore.. Dono whether they are still running this crazy route..

[isham_9626]

Originally Posted by wlbkng

SR is know for such innovative routes. In 2008 I travelled to Coimbatore in Chennai-Mangalore train, which started at Egmore then went via Trichy - Coimbatore and then to Mangalore.. Dono whether they are still running this crazy route..

It is still running on the same route. This was not planned for Chennai-Mangalore via Trichy.

Actually it started as Chennai-Trichy, later they extended to Erode, then to Coimbatore for some time and finally now its extended to Mangalore.

[wlbkng]

Thanks for the info.. That train journey was always special for some reason to me

[MA Eswaran]

Originally Posted by isham_9626

It is still running on the same route. This was not planned for Chennai-Mangalore via Trichy.

Actually it started as Chennai-Trichy, later they extended to Erode, then to Coimbatore for some time and finally now its extended to Mangalore.

It started as Chennai Egmore-Erode exp primarily to give train connection to Karur from Chennai.

Later it was extended to CBE and then finally to Mangalore ( Scrapping Trichy-Mangalore exp)

[thillai_selvan]

[arun82]

SG should partially fund the GC , electrification, doubling and acquire new MEMU and DMU rakes . These should be deployed between cities and towns in TN. There should passenger and non stop express service at regular interval. Many short-Medium distance connecting East west ( Coimbatore- Tirunelveli) and North -South TN ( Kaniyakumari-Pondicherry) should be introduced. The buses deployed in these routes should be transferred to lesser connected places.

All North bound trains from South TN should be diverted thru Villupuram-Katpadi route or Chengalpet-Arrakonam route and should avoid Chennai.

Some passenger trains should orginate from Tambaram and connect south and west TN. This will benefit people from Chengalpet , Kancheepuram and Villupuram district.

[dr_thapalathy]

Originally Posted by Arul Murugan

This train does not stop at Villupuram and SR is waiting for another laddoo deal with local sweet vendors so that separate function can be arranged and lakhs crore can be spent for stop introduction.

This train should have gone all the way via Villupuram, Thiruvanamalai, Katpadi, Gudur instead via Chennai!

Actually TN gvt learnt from this SR, how they should be Chennai centric.

SR policy! if anyone in Tirunelveli wants to travel to Bengaluru, he can take Nellai express to Chennai and then take Brindavan express to Bengaluru....

but in project case, there is no step mother treatment from SR.. equally all the projects will be delayed.

Even, TN Govt (both thatha and amma) is chennai centric.
When other states are concentration on developing two Metro cities, TN is concentrating on Chennai alone.
Why don't amma initially plan monorail for Coimbatore / Madurai (second and third largest city in TN). Why don't thatha introduce Volvo AC buses for Coimbatore or Madurai (atleast on trail basis), when the same were introduced in Chennai. Also, all the Govt AC buses, are having chennai as one of their destination (except for 5 routes), when other routes are also having potential.
When we local people are not at all concentrating on other parts of TN, then how come can we expect the Central Govt to?

[alagesan]

திருநெல்வேலி, திருசெந்தூர், தூத்துக்குடி,நாங்குநேரி, வள்ளியூர்,நாகர்கோயில் பகுதியில் இருந்து சங்கரன்கோயில், ராஜபாளையம்,, ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்தூர், சிவகாசி, வாசுதேவநல்லூர் போன்ற முக்கிய இடங்களுக்கு ரயில்களில் செல்ல முடியாத நிலை இன்னும் உள்ளது. இவை எல்லாம் ஆன்மீக ஸ்தலம்களும் கூட. இதனை இணைக்கும் வகையில் திருநெல்வேலியில் இருந்து சங்கரன்கோவில் வரை 55 கிமீ புதிய ரயில் பாதை அமைக்க வேண்டும். அவ்வாறு ரயில் பாதை அமைத்தால் குட்டி ஜப்பான் என்று அழைக்கப்படும் சிவகாசி அல்லது மதுரை யில் இருந்து ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்தூர், ராஜபாளையம், சங்கரன்கோவில், தேவர் குளம், மானூர், திருநெல்வேலி வழியாக திருச்செந்தூர், கன்னியாகுமரி வரை பயணிகள் ரயில் விட முடியும். சுற்றுலா பயணிகள் கன்னியாகுமரியில் இருந்து வர முடியும். ஸ்ரீவில்லிபுத்தூர் பகுதியில் உள்ள செண்பக தோப்பு, சதுரகிரி மலை, மீன்வெட்டி பாறை அருவி, ராஜபாளையம் பகுதியில் உள்ள அய்யனார் அருவி, சஞ்சீவி மலை, சங்கரன்கோயில் பகுதியில் உள்ள சங்கர நாராயணர் கோயில், கழுகுமலை போன்ற சுற்றுலா பகுதிகளுக்கு தமிழக மக்களும், கன்னியாகுமரி க்கு வரும் வெளிமாநில மற்றும் வெளிநாட்டினரும் வந்து செல்ல வழி பிறக்கும். மேலும் நெரிசல் மிகுந்த திருநெல்வேலி கோவில்பட்டி மதுரைக்கு மாற்று வழியாகவும் இதில் கூடுதல் ரயில்கள் மற்றும் சிறப்பு ரயில்களும் விட முடியும்.
இதனை மக்கள் வலியுறுத்த வேண்டும்.

நலம் விரும்பிகள் இதனை இணையத்தின் வழியாக நாளிதழ்களுக்கு அனுப்ப முடிந்தால் அனுப்பவும்

[Malaysia Mustafa]

புதுடில்லி : தனிநபர்கள் மட்டுமே முன்பதிவு செய்யும் வகையில், புதிய இ-டிக்கெட் சேவையை இந்தியன் ரயில்வே விரைவில் அறிமுகப்படுத்த உள்ளது. சேவைக்கட்டணமும் குறைகிறது.

ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி., மூலம் டிராவல் ஏஜன்டுகளும், வணிக நிறுவனங்களும் அதிகளவில் ரயில்வே டிக்கெட் இ-டிக்கெட்டுகளை முன்பதிவு செய்து வந்தனர். இதனால், தனிநபர்களுக்கு டிக்கெட் எளிதில் கிடைக்காத நிலை ஏற்பட்டது. மேலும், டிராவல் ஏஜன்டுகள் பதிவு செய்யும் இ-டிக்கெட்டுகளை அதிக விலை வைத்து விற்பதாகவும் புகார்கள் எழுந்தன. இதை தவிர்க்கும் பொருட்டு, இந்தியன் ரயில்வே, புதிய இ-டிக்கெட் சேவையை அறிமுகப்படுத்த திட்டமிட்டுள்ளது. அதன்படி, தனிநபர்கள் முதன்முறையாக, தாங்களாகவே பதிவு செய்து கொண்டு, இந்த சேவையை பெறலாம். இதற்கு கட்டணம் ஏதுமில்லை.

தொடக்கத்தில், ஒரு வாடிக்கையாளர் ஒரு மாதத்திற்கு எட்டு தடவைகள் மட்டும் பரிமாற்றங்கள் செய்துக்கொள்ள அனுமதிக்கப்படுவர். தூங்கும் வசதி கொண்ட வகுப்புகளுக்கு 5 ரூபாயும், இதர வகுப்புகளுக்கு 10 ரூபாயும் சேவைக் கட்டணமாக வசூலிக்கப்படும். ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி., யில் தூங்கும் வசதி கொண்ட வகுப்புகளுக்கு 10 ரூபாயும், இதர வகுப்புகளுக்கு, 20 ரூபாயும், சேவைக்கட்டணமாக வசூலிக்கப்படுகிறது. பகல் 12.30 மணியிலிருந்து, இரவு 11.30 வரையில் இந்த சேவையை பயன்படுத்தலாம். இந்த சேவை தொடங்கும் தேதி விரைவில் அறிவிக்கப்படும்.

What change will it make?

[Malaysia Mustafa]

Originally Posted by MA Eswaran

It started as Chennai Egmore-Erode exp primarily to give train connection to Karur from Chennai.

Later it was extended to CBE and then finally to Mangalore ( Scrapping Trichy-Mangalore exp)

Yes, It is especially for Karur which has more quota than TPJ and ED. At first it was TPJ-MAS which was linked with Alapuzha Exp in ED some time ago. Then they change the route.

FYI, TPJ - Mangalore was re-introduced as night train.

[deepu051993]

Originally Posted by Malaysia Mustafa

Yes, It is especially for Karur which has more quota than TPJ and ED. At first it was TPJ-MAS which was linked with Alapuzha Exp in ED some time ago. Then they change the route.

FYI, TPJ - Mangalore was re-introduced as night train.

Is it true that KRR has more Quota than TPJ and ED? I have seen many people getting in at karur but not as much in trichy.moreover erode people doesnt have to use this train to chennai but they may use it for trichy and further.
TPJ - MAQ is just a weekly express running with the racks of Howrah express i think so and it does not touch Coimbatore.