RailEnquiry

TRICHY: October 18, 2012, will go down in the annals of Southern Railway history as the last day for the running of trains on meter gauge in its jurisdiction, with the dismantling of the 115-km Tiruvarur-Pattukottai section slated to start soon after the tender formalities are completed.

The history of meter gauge lines comes to a end in Tamil Nadu, paving the way for all broad gauge lines in keeping with the rail board's uni-gauge policy across the country. The last-but-one of the 75 km stretch on the Pattukottai-Karaikudi meter gauge section was closed since March this year, and the dismantling process is already on. Though Karaikudi, the birth place of poet Kannadasan, and Tiruvarur, the birthplace of DMK's M Karunanidhi, are nevertheless connected with broad gauge lines, only Pattukottai, the birthplace of Makkal Kavignar Pattukottai Kalyanasundaram will go without the sound of a train for at least another three years until the existing track is converted to broad gauge.

Though the last vestiges of meter gauge still remain in only the Ooty-Mettupalayam section for a length of 45 km, gauge conversion is not possible as it forms part of the UNESCO heritage mountain range lines along with Darjeeling and Shimla. Modern technology might allow our engineers to broaden the gauge, but the heritage must be protected and perpetuated, divisional railway manager Manjula Rangarajan told TOI.

There are 11 stations between Pattukottai and Tiruvarur and the major station is Thiruthuraipoondi. The last train on the meter gauge from Tiruvarur started at 8 pm on Thursday and completed its journey at Thiruthiraipoondi at 8.45 pm. Likewise, the last train from Pattukottai started at 3.30 pm and reached Tiruvarur at 6.30 pm. All of 11 stations will be closed from Friday, said Manjula Rangarajan.