After cancelling Chennai Egmore-Madurai-Chennai Egmore Tejas Special from January four as a consequence of lack of patronage, Southern Railway has proposed to re-introduce the premium practice from January 10.
Welcoming the transfer, Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan thanked Railway Minister Piyush Goyal for heeding individuals’s demand. Mr. Venkatesan had objected to the cancellation of the practice claiming that unaffordably excessive fares and the pandemic state of affairs have been the key causes for decrease patronage.
A railway official right here mentioned after re-introduction following leisure in lockdown norms the practice noticed poor patronage. “Though the passenger patronage increased from 15% during the initial days to 25% to 30%, the maximum occupation of seats was only 40% during weekends and holidays,” he added.
Officials in Madurai division too had requested for working the practice anticipating increased patronage throughout Pongal. On persevering with the operation of Tejas Special practice, the official mentioned it relied on the patronage.
Meanwhile, the timing of the categorical practice is claimed to be a serious cause for the poor patronage. “The train leaves Egmore at 6 a.m. With no stoppage at Tambaram, passengers find it difficult to reach the station on time for the train,” mentioned Dakshin Railway Employees’ Union divisional secretary R. Sankaranarayanan.
Stoppage at Tamabaram will even assist passengers going to Chennai airport. Similarly, assembly the long-pending demand for shifting the stoppage from Kodaikanal Road to Dindigul railway station can be anticipated to deliver extra patronage.
The practice is scheduled to depart Madurai junction at Three p.m. and attain Chennai Egmore at 9.15 p.m. It stops at Kodai Road (3.28 p.m.) and Tiruchi (5 p.m.). It leaves Egmore at 6 a.m. and reaches Madurai at 12.15 pm. It stops at Tiruchi (9.55 a.m.) and Kodai Road (11.18 a.m.).
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