RailEnquiry

Rameswaram: In a major relief for tourists visiting the temple town, train services on Pamban bridge connecting Rameswaram island with the mainland, resumed from Sunday.However, the Southern Railway (SR) has commenced only day time trains for now, while night services continue to be suspended as the fear of another collision of the tug boat on the bridge still remains. The barge has been moved farther from the bridge, but the tug boat is still stranded close to the bridge. A statement from the SR said that night train services on the Mandapam - Rameswaram section have been suspended on January 20 and 21.Six trains, Madurai - Rameswaram passenger, Rameswaram - Madurai passenger, Trichy - Rameswaram passenger, Rameswaram - Trichy passenger, Chennai Egmore - Rameswaram Express and Rameswaram - Chennai Egmore express commenced operations on Sunday."Train No 56723 Madurai - Rameswaram passenger was the first train to be operated over the bridge," said a railway official. The services of these trains were cancelled in the section since January 13 after the barge collided on the British-era bridge, damaging one of the piers.After raising temporary support structure in place of the damaged pier, trial runs were conducted by the railways using a locomotive on Saturday. An empty rake was also operated to test the stability of the track and the bridge. A team of engineers from Madurai and Chennai divisions camped in Pamban and undertook the restoration works. M Satheesh, principal chief engineer, Lalloo Singh, chief bridge engineer from the Southern Railway headquarters in Chennai and A K Rastogi, divisional railway manager, Madurai had monitored the restoration work.

Railway officials said the night trains will however be suspended since the tug boat is still present at the spot where it ran aground and to check for any potential damage it could cause. "The night trains could be operated only after ascertaining the condition of the tug boat and its anchorage strength," a railway official said.

Meanwhile, the salvage operations of the tug boat have been scheduled on January 26, the full moon day to utilise the high tides in the Pamban stretch. Port officials at Pamban stated that they have received communication from the shipping company about deploying a salvage vessel and team from Tuticorin, which may arrive to Pamban on January 25. "The salvage operations are scheduled on January 26, taking the high tides in favour. The tug boat is secured in its present location using seven anchors each weighing 300-kg," a port official mentioned.