Yet another weekly train service connecting Salem and Tiruchi

The introduction of Sriganganagar (Rajasthan) – Tiruchi Humsafar Weekly Express has given yet another direct connectivity from Salem to Tiruchi much to the delight of the commuters of both the western and central districts.

At present, the Mayiladuthurai – Mysuru overnight express train is the only daily train connecting Salem and Tiruchi, the headquarters of two railway divisional headquarters.

Though the Nagercoil – Kacheguda, Madurai – Kacheguda, Nagercoil – Chennai Central and Velankanni – Vasco Da Gama trains do provide direct connectivity to these two junctions, all the four are weekly express services.

The irony is that there is no single passenger train service in the Salem – Tiruchi section during the whole day.

The travelling public of both the western districts and central districts have been repeatedly pleading with the Railways to introduce more direct trains in the Salem – Namakkal - Tiruchi section.

The new train will stop at Hanumangarh; Surathghar; Bikaner; Jodhpur; Marwar; Abu Road; Palanpur; Mahesana; Ahmedabad;

Nadiad; Anand; Vadodara; Bharuch; Surat; Vasai Road; Kalyan; Lonavala; Pune; Satara; Sangli;

Miraj; Belagavi; Dharwad; Hubbali; Harihar; Davangere; Birur; Arsikere; Tumakuru; Banaaswadi; Krishnarajapuram;

Bangarepet; Salem; Namakkal; and Karur.

Train No. 14715 Sriganganagar – Tiruchi Humsafar Express will depart from Sriganganagar at 12.25 a.m. on Tuesdays.

It will arrive at Salem Junction at 9.55 a.m. on Thursday.

It will depart from Salem at 10.05 a.m.; Namakkal at 10.55 a.m.; Karur 11.30 a.m. and will reach Tiruchi at 1.30 p.m. on Thursday.

Train No. 14716 will depart from Tiruchi at 11.30 p.m. on Thursday, Karur at 1.10 a.m. on Friday, Namakkal at 1.40 a.m., Salem at 2.50 a.m. and will reach Sriganganagar at 3.15 p.m. on Sunday.

One of the advantages of the new facility is that it will be operated via the short-cut route of Namakkal and Karur. The special features of the new train is the provision of GPS-based information system; coffee/tea/soup vending machine, hot and refrigerate pantry; fire prevention system, smoke detection and suppression system, mobile and laptop charging points; convenient berth identification; improved hygienic toilets and dustbins in each cabin; and attractive seats and berths with equally attractive curtains on windows and aisles, a press release of the Salem Railway Division said.

Welcoming the new facility, a cross-section of the commuters of Salem district said that the train will also give direct and additional connectivity to cities such as Krishnarajapuram (near Bengaluru), Kalyan (near Mumbai), Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, Abu Road, Bikaner etc.

E. Lakshman of Salem city, a regular commuter in the Salem – Tiruchi section urged the Railways to advance the departure of the Tiruchi – Sriganganagar Express at Tiruchi by a few hours.

The present timing of departing from Tiruchi at 11.30 a.m. and arriving at Namakkal at 1.39 a.m. and Salem at 2.45 a.m. will not benefit the travelling public much.

The Railways should advance the departure time at Tiruchi junction to 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. so that the train reaches Salem at 10 p.m. This arrangement will immensely benefit the people in reaching Namakkal and Salem without any difficulty and will also pave way for good patronage, he added.