Title - : Chennai – Alleppey Express to have Coimbatore halt after 30 years

After a gap of nearly 30 years, Train No 16041/16042 Chennai – Alleppey – Chennai Daily Express is all set to be routed via Coimbatore. Train number 16331/16332 Mumbai CSTM – Thiruvananthapuram – Mumbai CSTM weekly Express will also pass through Coimbatore.Confirming the Railway Board's decision to clear the proposal for routing these trains, convenor of the struggle committee, G.K. Nagaraj and rail activist S. Nagaraj said it was the result of their sustained efforts. He added that the committee's efforts would continue for other trains also.Mr.Nagaraj said that absence of the Coimbatore – Irugur second line in the past was the reason for the neglect of Coimbatore. Now, the proposal to double the Podanur – Irugur line is likely to enlarge the threat for trains skipping Coimbatore. The committee would oppose the doubling and push for the single line to be declared as a dedicated freight corridor.It may be recalled that the committee had waged a long draw out struggle to get 13 pairs of trains (weekly, bi-weekly, tri-weekly, six days a week and daily) routed via Coimbatore. All of them were running via Irugur – Podanur – Irugur section.

Some with a halt at Coimbatore and some others skipping it.

Demand

Citing passenger potential, demand and the fact that Coimbatore was the next largest revenue spinner next to Chennai, the struggle committee met all top officials in the Railways including the ministers.

The first victory for the committee came in the form of a halt at Podanur for the Tirunelveli – Bilaspur – Tirunelveli Weekly Express and Yeswantpur – Kannur – Yeswantpur Express, providing overnight rail connectivity to Bangalore.

The decision of the Railway Board to route Chennai Central – Alleppey – Chennai Central Daily Express train brought lot of cheer to rail users in this part of the State.