Even while the commuters of Erode – Salem – Attur section celebrated the introduction of a daytime special train from Erode to Chennai Egmore for a period of three months, Hari Shankar Verma, Divisional Railway Manager, hinted that this temporary train will in probability become a regular service if it enjoyed a good patronage.
It was a long pending demand of the people of Salem and Erode districts for day time train service to Chennai Egmore via Attur and Vridhachalam. This was brought to the notice of Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister, during his recent visit to Coimbatore. He gave his nod instantly for running the train on an experimental basis in this section.
The Southern Railway introduced this train from September 16 much to the joy of all sections of the society. The train will halt at
Sankagiri, Salem Junction, Salem Town, Vazhappadi, Attur, Chinnasalem, Vridhachalam, Villupuram, Tindivanam, Melmaruvathur, Chengalpattu, Tambaram, and Mambalam.
Initially this special train was to be operated five days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday) from September 23 to October 14. With pressing for extending the service for a few more weeks to pick up patronage, the Railways decided to extend this facility till November 30.
Mr. Hari Shankar Verma, speaking to presspersons here on Friday, hinted that this special train has the possibility of becoming a regular service if it enjoyed a good patronage during these months. The commuters are happy that this train will enable the people of Salem and Erode districts in reaching destinations such as Villupuram, Melmaruvathur, Tindivanam, Chengalpattu and Tambaram during the day time. This will reduce the congestion in the other day time trains proceeding to Chennai Central from Coimbatore via Jolarpettai.
The train is expected to pick up traffic as the fare is very low. The reserved ticket (sitting) fare from Salem to Chennai is Rs. 145, to Melmaruvathur Rs. 120, to Villupuram Rs. 100, to Vridhachalam Rs. 85 and to Erode Rs. 75. The unreserved ticket fare from Salem to Channai is Rs. 115, to Tambaram Rs. 110; to Villupuram Rs. 70; to Vridhachalam Rs. 60, to Chinnasalem Rs. 45 and to Attur Rs. 30. Mr. Verma said that this train was planned only from Salem. As there is no rake maintenance facility and pit line facility in Salem, this train is being operated from Erode.
The Salem division will take initiative for this facility in future connection Salem Junction and Salem Market railway station, which will pave way for operating trains from Salem itself.
The Erode – Chennai Egmore special will depart from Erode at 4.45 a.m., Salem Junction at 6.10 a.m.; and will reach Chennai Egmore at 1.30 p.m. In the return direction, the train will depart from Chennai Egmore at 3 p.m. and will reach Salem Junction at 10.10 p.m. and Erode at 11.20 p.m.
