The Salem Railway Division has complained about the poor patronage for the special passenger trains plying in the Salem – Namakkal – Karur section, and called upon the extend patronage to these trains to enable the railways to continue their operation.
Following the repeated pleas of the people from different walks of life of Salem, Namakkal and Karur districts, the Railways introduced a No. 06743 / 06744 daily special passenger train in the Salem – Karur – Salem section.
Besides, it also extended the operation of the train No. 06739 / 06740 Salem – Karur – Salem passengers, which were operated on six days a week, on Sundays too. These trains were introduced and extended in September 2015.
The train No. 06743 passenger special departed from Salem at 11.30 a.m. and reached Karur at 1.30 p.m. and the train No. 06744 departed from Karur at 2.40 p.m. and reached Salem at 4.40 p.m.
The train No. 06739 on Sundays departed from Salem at 6 a.m. and reached Karur at 8.10 a.m. and train No. 06740 departed from Karur at 8.30 a.m. and reached Salem at 10.30 a.m.
An official press release of Salem Railway Division issued here on Thursday said that the patronage for the above special trains are found to be very poor and the average occupancy is between 13 to 21 per cent only. On an average commuters numbering between 78 and 122 have been travelling in these trains per day, which was very much on the lower side for operating any train.
Usually, the Railways continued the passenger amenity only if there is sufficient demand and patronage. Withdrawing these specials would mean that there will be no service of train numbers 06739 / 06740 on Sundays; and the train numbers 06743 / 06744 daily.
With the cancellation of the above trains, only two pairs of regular passenger trains will be run in the morning and evening hours.
The release called upon the people of Salem, Namakkal and Karur districts to extend patronage to enable the continued operation of these trains. In case of continued poor patronage, the railways will have no other option but to withdraw the above special train services, the release cautioned.
