Taking note of the public demand for resumption of passenger train services on the recently converted broad gauge line between Pattukottai and Karaikudi, the Southern Railway has finally decided to operate regular train services on the section from July 2.
However, the services would be bi-weekly and operated on an experimental basis for a period of three months. Train services would be operated from Karaikudi to Pattukottai and back on Monday and Thursday as per the plan.
Ahead of commencing the regular service from July 2, the first service would be operated on June 30 (Saturday) in this section. The railway administration has decided to operate the service using Diesel Electric Multiple (DEMU) rake. The timings of the services and the stoppages have been announced by the railway authorities.
Accordingly, the Karaikudi-Pattukottai biweekly passenger special (Train No. 06856) will leave Karaikudi at 6 a.m. and reach Pattukottai at 12.30 p.m. The passenger train will stop at Kandanur Puduvayal, Periyakottai, Valaramanikkam, Aranthangi, Ayingudi, Peravurani and Ottankadu.
In the return direction, the Pattukottai - Karaikudi passenger special will leave Pattukottai at 1 p.m. and arrive at Karaikudi at 7.30 p.m. with stoppages at the above mentioned stations enroute.
Although the 73.4 km BG converted line from Pattukottai to Karaikudi was authorised by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Bengaluru for operation of passenger and freight traffic in early March, resumption of regular services did not take off for over three months irking commuters and general public of that area.
The Peravurani Taluk Rail Passengers Association in Thanjavur district decided to stage a stir in mid-July if passenger train services were not resumed in this stretch. A few days ago, the All India Youth Federation staged a demonstration in front of the Aranthangi railway station in Pudukottai district demanding resumption of train services.
The Pattukottai - Karaikudi section was closed for rail traffic in 2012 end to enable the Southern Railway Construction Organisation convert the stretch into a broad gauge. It took over five years for the Construction Organisation to complete the works following which the section was inspected by the Commissioner of Railway Safety for three days from February 27 to March 1 and thereafter authorised the section for operation of passenger and freight traffic at a maximum permissible speed of 75 kilometre per hour.
