Introduction of a new weekly air-conditioned train in the Chennai Central – Salem – Madurai section and extension of Chennai Central – Palani express to Palakkad via Pollachi are the highlights pertaining to Salem Railway Division in the new Railway timetable.
The Chennai Central – Madurai weekly train will be operated from Chennai on Fridays and from Madurai on Sundays.
Train No. 20601 Chennai Central – Madurai express will depart from Chennai Central at 10.30 p.m. on Friday, reach Salem at 3.05 a.m. on Saturday, Karur 4.40 a.m., Dindigul 6.05 a.m. and Madurai at 7.20 a.m.
Train No. 20602 Madurai – Chennai Central AC train will leave Madurai at 10.45 p.m. on Sundays, Dindigul at 11.45 p.m.; Karur - 12.50 a.m. on Monday, Salem - 2.30 a.m., and will reach Chennai at 7.40 a.m.
The train will be introduced from Chennai Central on November 3 and from Madurai on November 5, according to Railway sources.
The Chennai Central – Palani daily train will be extended to Palakkad via Pollachi, giving a direct train connectivity to the residents of Pollachi to centres like Salem, Palani, Dindigul, Karur and Chennai.
Train No. 22651 Chennai Central – Palani – Palakkad express will depart from Chennai Central at 9.40 p.m.; Palani - 7.20 a.m. the next day, Pollachi at 9.05 a.m. and will reach Palakkad junction at 11 a.m.
In the return direction, the No. 22652 Palakkad – Palani – Chennai Central express will depart from Palakkad Junction at 3 p.m.; Pollachi at 4.30 p.m.; Palani - 6 p.m. and will reach Chennai Central at 4.15 a.m. the next day.
The train will have stoppages at Udumalpet, Kollengode and Palakkad Town in the extended portion. The train will be extended up to Palakkad from October 31.
Speeding up of trains
The following trains have been speeded up for reaching the end destination much in advance:
Train No. 11063 Chennai Egmore – Salem Express will depart from Chennai at 11 p.m. and will arrive at Salem at 5.20 a.m. the next day, about 75 minutes in advance. Similarly, train No. 11064 Salem – Chennai Egmore will depart from Salem at 9.20 p.m. (instead of 9 p.m.) and reach Egmore at 3.45 a.m., 50 minutes in advance.
Train No. 12675 Chennai Central – Coimbatore ‘Kovai’ Express will depart from Chennai at 6.10 a.m. from November 1, instead of 6.15 a.m.
Train No. 12676 Coimbatore – Chennai Central ‘Kovai’ Express will arrive at Central at 10.30 p.m.
The timings of the following passenger trains have been speeded up:
No. 66020 Salem – Katpadi passenger will depart at 3.30 p.m. and will reach Katpadi at 8.45 p.m.; No. 76833 Tiruchi – Karur passenger will depart at 9.35 a.m. and will reach Karur at 11.35 a.m.; No. 76835 Tiruchi – Karur passenger will leave Tiruchi at 6.15 p.m. and will reach Karur at 8.25 p.m.; No. 76836 Karur – Tiruchi passenger will depart at 7 a.m. and will reach Tiruchi at 9.15 a.m.; No. 76848 Salem – Vriddhachalam passenger will depart at 6.40 p.m. and reach Vriddhachalam at 9.55 p.m.; No. 76847 Vriddhachalam – Salem passenger will depart at 6 a.m. and will reach Salem at 9.05 a.m.
