Chennai: If everything goes as planned, a new overnight weekly train will begin operations between Tambaram and Tirunelveli, after the elections.
Sources said the mechanical wing of Southern Railway has sanctioned approval for introducing the service.
The move is expected to decongest the Chennai-Tirunelveli route during weekends, thereby putting an end to Suvidha trains.
According to sources, the existing infrastructure facilities which were so far used for Suvidha trains at Tirunelveli, have been earmarked for the proposed weekly.
“Presently, Nellai and Kanyakumari daily expresses, operated in the Chennai-Tirunelveli section, are overcrowded. Particularly, during festive seasons, the Railways operates the highest number of special trains on this route, due to high passenger demand,” sources said.
As such a juncture, aiming at utilising the idling rolling stock effectively, Madurai division is said to have proposed a new, overnight, weekly train between Tambaram and Tirunelveli.
The Tirunelveli- Dadar weekly express rake is to be used for operating the train, the proposal for which was approved by the Indian Railway Time Table Committee (IRTTC), two months ago.
Sources added the weekly will leave Tirunelveli 6 pm Sundays and reach Tambaram 8.20 am the next day. On its return, it will leave Tambaram Mondays 5 pm and reach Tirunelveli at 8.30 am the next day.