Electric locomotive hauled regular train services in the Villupuram-Tiruchi broad gauge section which has been electrified, will be operated from mid November, the Divisional Railway Manager, Tiruchi, S. Subramhanyan said on Friday.
The railway authorities have planned to initially operate half-a-dozen passenger trains hauled by electric locomotives including the Rockfort and the Pallavan Expresses in the Villupuram-Tiruchi electrified section, he told the media at the Tiruchi Railway Junction after inaugurating an awareness campaign against carrying inflammable items and crackers on trains.
With the traction sub station, established as part of the Villupuram–Tiruchi broad gauge electrification project, having been energised, some residual works were being carried out by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) prior to providing power supply.
The TNEB had erected towers to connect the Tiruchi traction sub station and stringing works were currently underway, he said, adding that the electric engine hauled passenger trains between Villupuram and Tiruchi would be operated from mid November. The traction sub station work at Vriddhachalam was apace with the equipment having been installed.
Mr. Subramhanyan said the 122 kilometre Villupuram–Mayiladuthurai broad gauge conversion works would be completed by the end of December. Track had been laid in the section and signalling work and its testing were currently on.
The Closed Circuit Television System at Tiruchi railway junction would be commissioned before March. A total number of 14 surveillance cameras would be installed at vantage points as part of an effort to scale up security at Tiruchi Junction, he added.
To another query, Mr. Subramhanyan said the Mayiladuthurai–Tiruvarur gauge conversion work had commenced with excavation works going on. “We are hoping for completion of the work of laying a new broad gauge line from Nagapattinam to Velankanni before Christmas,” Mr. Subramhanyan said.
