Title - Tuticorin-Chennai daily day train flagged off

The daily day train from Tuticorin to Chennai on Wednesday – the long-pending demand of the people from this region – was flagged off at Tuticorin railway station by S.Jeyadurai, Tuticorin MP, in the presence of A.K.Rastogi, Divisional Railway Manager, Southern Railway, Madurai, and V.Ajith Kumar, ADRM.The maiden journey of the eight-bogie train, bedecked with flowers, began at the station at 7.35 a.m. As announced in the Railway Budget 2013-14, the sectional coaches running between Chennai Egmore and Madurai in trains (16127/16128) and Chennai Egmore-Guruvayur Express were extended to Tuticorin as Tuticorin-Chennai Egmore-Tuticorin Link Express (numbers 16130/16129).The link express with six second-class sitting coaches (reserved), one general second-class coach and one luggage-cum-brake van would be attached and detached at Vanchi Maniyachi station, Mr.Rastogi said.After flagging off the train, Mr.Jeyadurai said demands were made for introducing one more night train to Chennai from Tuticorin and for extension of Chennai-Tirunelveli Nellai Express to Tiruchendur. Addressing media personnel, he said based on availability of trains, new services would be introduced as announced in the Budget.He stated that 20 unmanned level-crossings would be removed and subways, road overbridges or diversion roads would be constructed there.

M.Piramanayagam, secretary, Tuticorin District Passengers Welfare Association, demanded an air-conditioned chair–car coach and a sleeper coach in the train for the benefit of elderly passengers who should otherwise be sitting till the end of the journey at Chennai Egmore.

Govindappa Raj, Senior Divisional Manager, S.T.Ramalingam, Senior Divisional Operating Manager M.Chidambara Velan, Senior Divisional Mechanical Engineer, J.Samson Vijayakumar, Divisional Engineer, N.Venugopal, Senior Public Relations Officer, Madurai Division, D.R.Kodeeswaran, Secretary, Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tuticorin, and others were present.

Timings

The Tuticorin-Chennai Egmore Link Express (16130) Daily will leave Tuticorin at 7.35 a.m. and arrive at Vanchi Maniyachi at 8.30 a.m. and halt there for five minutes. It will reach Chennai Egmore at 21.15 hours.

Chennai Egmore-Tuticorin Link Express (16129) Daily will leave Chennai Egmore at 7.40 a.m. and arrive at Vanchi Maniyachi at 18.35 hours. It will leave the station at 19.15 hours and reach Tuticorin at 20.35 hours.

Stoppages

The train would stop at Tambaram, Chengalpattu, Melmaruvathur, Tindivanam, Villupuram, Vridhachalam, Pennadam, Ariyalur, Srirangam, Tiruchi, Manaparai, Dindigul, Kudalnagar, Madurai, Virudunagar, Satur, Kovilpatti, Vanchi Maniyachi and Milavittan. The Chennai Egmore-Tuticorin Link Express (16129) will also stop at Tuticorin-Melur and Tuticorin-Chennai Egmore Link Express (16130) will have a stop at Mambalam as well.