Title - Karur-Salem line to bring many benefits in its wake

It cuts running time, no need for engine turnaround at Erode..
The Karur-Namakkal-Salem new broad gauge line, which is expected to be opened to passenger train traffic soon, is likely to facilitate the introduction of a train service between Bangalore and Nagercoil, a long-pending demand from Kanyakumari district. The new line cuts running time between Karur and Salem, and saves 20 minutes at Erode junction for engine turnaround. “Overall, we can save around one hour of running time if we use the new line,” a senior official said. The non-stop Madurai-Chennai Duronto Express could also be diverted to the Karur-Salem line instead of the present Karur-Erode-Salem route to save time and fuel, he added.The Tuticorin-Mysore Express is the only train connecting Bangalore to the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. The residents association of Kanyakumari and Tirunelveli districts in Bangalore had been making representations to the Railway Ministry for many years to operate an overnight daily train service between Bangalore and Nagercoil. Its president T.S. Jegan said that the weekly train running between Bangalore and Nagercoil did not meet the requirement of the southern districts.The timing of the train did not suit office-goers and students as it left Nagercoil at 1.20 p.m. on Saturdays. In reached Nagercoil at 2 p.m on the return .

Commuters from the southern districts were employed in the Information Technology industry and running businesses in Bangalore, Hosur and Dharmapuri, he added. The association claimed that at least 3,000 people used buses on this route owing to non-availability of seats on trains.

The daily Kanyakumari-Bangalore Express did not benefit passengers in Tamil Nadu as it took a circuitous route travelling 944 km (via Kerala) instead of 723 km via Madurai and Salem. The travelling time was 21 hours as against 14 hours by other trains, he added.