Title - The Hindu : NATIONAL / TAMIL NADU : Freight service begins on Salem-Karur sector

Regular freight service on the newly laid Salem-Karur broad-gauge railway line via Namakkal began on Thursday. The passenger service is expected to commence by January 2013.

Salem Divisional Railway Manager (DRM) Sujatha Jayaraj flagged off the cement-laden train that was from Andhra Pradesh to Tirunelveli, via Karur. The DRM said that the new route would reduce travelling time between Salem and Karur by an hour as currently trains from Salem had to reach Erode and then to Karur covering an additional distance of 40 km.

About the commencement of passenger service, she said that after inspection and approval by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, the passenger service would begin.

She along with Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM) V. Thavamani Pandi, engineers and other senior railway officials travelled in the goods train from Salem to Karur and held discussions with officials. Senior officials said that the viability of freight earnings was also good in the sector due to the presence of industries along the stretch.

The project, initially began in 1997 at an estimated cost of Rs. 225 crore to lay tracks for 85 km, between Salem and Karur via Namakkal ran into rough weathers due to problems in land acquisitions and inadequate allotment of funds in railway budgets. Later, the project cost was revised to Rs. 630 crore and work was speeded up and track laying work was completed a year ago. Construction of railway stations, over-bridges and installing telecommunication signals and providing basic amenities to passengers at stations were the remaining works that were completed in the past one year.

Trail run of train engine was carried out in February and problems on tracks were rectified by railway workers. Hence in a prelude to commence passenger traffic, freight service began on Thursday.