6 express trains to run on electric traction from Dec end

TIRUNELVELI: The Southern Railway will throw open the newly-electrified Virudhunagar - Vanchimaniachchi - Tuticorin and Vanchimaniachchi - Tirunelveli sections by December end following the completion of the statutory safety audit by the commissioner of railway safety (CRS) on Thursday. The Madurai railway division, under which these sections fall, is now planning to run at least six express trains with electric locomotives.The trains would be Pearl City Express, Nellai Express, Ananthapuri Express, Kanyakumari Express, Guruvayur Express and Trichy - Tirunelveli Intercity Express.
CRS S K Mittal began his inspection on the second day on Thursday by conducting a speed trial using an electric locomotive. The special train left Virudhunagar at 10.15am to reach Tuticorin at 11.55am. After leaving Tuticorin at 12.30pm it reached Tirunelveli at 1.20pm.
Addressing reporters after the audit, Mittal said that he has carefully studied all aspects of the electrified lines. He had suggested some small rectifications and the audit turned out to be very satisfactory, Mittal said. He also said that he will submit his report to railway board in two weeks period after which electric traction may commence, he said.
A K Rastogi, divisional railway manager, said that after obtaining CRS certification, they are planning to use electric traction on six passenger trains. "It will improve train speed by 40 to 60 minutes since there will be smooth acceleration and deceleration of trains," he said. Moreover, it will provide seamless traction from Chennai till Thiruvananthapuram and beyond. Further, the need to swap electric to diesel locomotive could be ruled out for trains running beyond Madurai since electric traction at present ends with Madurai while electric traction is available beyond Tirunelveli. "Once electric traction starts to Tirunelveli, it would be continuous electric traction till Thiruvananthapuram and beyond," Rastogi said.
Expressing delight about electric traction expanding beyond Madurai, rail users urged railway authorities to make some changes in train timings especially at Tirunelveli where three important trains pass the junction within 35 minutes.
S Chandramauli, vice-president of Tirunelveli Chamber of Commerce said they have submitted a petition in this regard earlier. "When trains could gain 40 to 60 minutes through electric traction, the timings of Nellai Express could be advanced," he said. Kanyakumari rail users on the other hand urged railway authorities to extend Trichy - Tirunelveli Intercity Express till Thiruvananthapuram with this new electric traction. "We have been demanding to extend the Intercity Express till Kanyakumari and beyond so that we will also get train connectivity during day," said P Edward Jeni, secretary of Kanyakumari District Rail Users Association.