The much expected Palakkad-Coimbatore-Erode Mainline Electrical Multiple Units (MEMU) began its service on Sunday.
Members of the Coimbatore Railway Struggle Committee led by P. R. Natarajan, MP, convener G.K. Nagaraj, member, Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore R. Raveendran, Station Consultative Committee member P. Balasubramaniam, Nagaraj of Janata Party and others welcomed the train at the Coimbatore Junction which commenced its service from Palakkad town station. The members then boarded the train and travelled till Peelamedu.
Mr. Raveendran said that the train, with nine coaches and a carrying capacity of 900 passengers, would provide the much-needed connectivity to all the cities and towns on the Palakkad - Erode stretch.
Gauge conversion
Ever since the Railway Ministry announced the introduction of the train in the 2012-13 Railway Budget, the Committee had been urging the Ministry to introduce the train at the earliest.
Now the Committee would urge the Ministry to complete the Coimbatore-Pollachi gauge conversion work and the electrification of the Mettupalayam line so that another MEMU could be made possible in the region.
If that were to materialise, it would provide complete connectivity to all the towns in the region.
The MEMU service starts at Erode at 7.45 a.m., reaches Tirupur at 8.40 a.m., Coimbatore at 10.25 a.m. and reaches Palakkad at 12.30 p.m. In the opposite direction, the train starts at Palakkad at 2.30 p.m., reaches Coimbatore at 4.10 p.m. and Erode at 7 p.m.
