Regular travellers of Salem-Chennai Egmore overnight express train want the railway administration to revise the train timings.
They want the railway administration to advance the departure time and delay the arrival time of this train at Chennai Egmore. This is the only train which runs in the Salem — Chennai Egmore section via Attur and Vriddhachalam.
The train leaves Chennai Egmore at 11pm and arrives at Salem at 6.35am the next day. In the return direction, the train leaves Salem at 9pm and reaches Chennai Egmore at 4.40am.
This is the last but one train to leave from Chennai Egmore and one of the earliest trains to arrive at this station.
The Chennai Egmore — Salem Express departs from Tambaram at 11.25pm.; Chengalpattu at 11.55pm.; Melmaruvathur 12.25am.; Tindivanam 12.55am.; Villupuram 1.35am.
The Salem — Chennai Egmore Express arrives at Villupuram at 1am.; Tindivanam at 1.53am.; Melmaruvathur 2.23am.; Chengalpattu 3.08am.; Tambaram at 3.39am.
Only train
As this was the only train from Chennai Egmore to Salem (all other trains are being operated from Chennai Central via Arakkonam, Jolarpettai route), the commuters of the en route towns such as Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Melamaruvathur, Tindivanam use this train to reach Salem and vice versa.
But this train reaches these towns in the odd hours on both the directions causing much hardship to all, said S. Sivakumar, president of the Guides’ Association, Attur.
He demanded the railways to revise the timings of this train on both the directions.
Stoppage
He also demanded stoppage of the train at Mambalam station.
Meanwhile, the railways ruled out revising the timing of the train. The railway sources said the rakes of the Dadar — Chennai Egmore Express are being used to run the Chennai Egmore — Salem Express. The Dadar — Chennai Egmore Express arrives at Chennai Egmore at 7.45pm and the Chennai — Dadar Express departs at 6.50am.
Traffic
As such, there it would be possible either advancing or delaying the timings of the train at Chennai Egmore.
Moreover, heavy traffic congestion was witnessed in the Vriddhachalam — Egmore section throughout the night hours.
