MP seeks spl trains between Chennai, Kanyakumari

Considering the high demand for trains by people commuting between Chennai and Nagercoil, the Kanyakumari MP H Vasanthakumar has written to the Southern Railway general manager and other railway officials seeking special trains to be plied between the two destinations in the state.

Vasanthakumar stated that people of Kanyakumari are residing in Chennai in large numbers as they are working or studying there.

“They come home during Deepavali, Christmas, New Year and Pongal holidays every year,” he said and pointed out that existing trains between Chennai and Kanyakumari district are already full.

He stated that the waiting list for those trains have also grown so long that passengers are left hoping for special trains to be operated during these festival seasons. He said that last year no special train was operated to Nagercoil but for a Sunday special from Chennai that was announced earlier as a winter special.

“This had disappointed passengers,” he said. The MP said that Chennai-Kanyakumari is the highest revenue earning section for Southern Railway and also the section where more special trains should be operated. “Special trains terminating at Tirunelveli should be operated till Nagercoil to benefit the entire section,” he said.

Stating that the AC Garib Rath train from Chennai Central to Nagercoil operated in the winter of 2011-12 was a big hit among passengers and also fetched good revenue for the railways, he requested that operations of this train should be resumed during the forthcoming holiday seasons too.

He has also put forward a demand for more train services such as Chennai – Nagercoil on Fridays, Nagercoil – Chennai on Sundays, Nagercoil – Bangalore weekly through Madurai, Tirunelveli – Mumbai through Nagercoil Town and Trivandrum and Trivandrum – Velankanni through Nagercoil Town and Madurai.