MP seeks re-routing of nine pairs of trains

Coimbatore MP P.R. Natarajan has urged the Chairman of Railway Board to take expeditious steps to re-route the nine pairs of trains via Coimbatore at least in two phases.

Mr. Natarajan, in a memorandum, pointed out that Coimbatore had been a highest revenue generator next to Chennai in the Southern Railway. Thanking the Railways for having diverted five pairs of trains via Coimbatore Junction, Mr.Natarajan said that despite having a double line facility between Podanur – Coimbatore – Irugur, the nine pairs of trains were being run on the single line Podanur – Irugur section, ignoring the travel needs of passengers in Coimbatore.

Responding to the reply of Southern Railway that the trains skipping Coimbatore Junction were superfast ones running with very tight schedule and their diversion via Coimbatore would result in they losing the superfast status, Mr. Natarajan said that these trains were earlier running via Coimbatore.

Having declared Coimbatore as an Aadharsh Station, allowing trains to skip such an important junction was not certainly a prudent decision. If one were to go by the argument of superfast status, then Railways should operate only Duranto (non-stop point to point trains) for commercial interests brushing aside the interests of people.

Two phases

Railways could consider re-routing the trains in two-phases, i.e., in the first phase Yeswantpur – Kannur (16527/28), Chennai - Thiruvananthapuram (12623/24), Chennai – Mangalore (12685/86), Chennai Mangalore (12601/02) trains could diverted via Coimbatore. In the second phase, 12653/54 Tiruchi – Mangalore, 12777/78 Hubli – Kochuveli, 12697/98 (Chennai – Thiruvananthapuram), Ernakulam – Bangalore (12683/84) and Ernakulam – Bangalore (22607/08) trains could be diverted.