NE RAILWAY BUREAU
KUMBAKONAM, SEPT 20
Could a daytime train do more than cut travel inconvenience — and reconnect a sizeable migrant population with its home district? This question was at the heart of a demand raised by rail users for a new daytime Express between Rameswaram and Kumbakonam, with a proposed route covering Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirappalli and Thanjavur.
A resolution seeking the introduction of the service was adopted at the 63rd Annual General Body Meeting of the Thanjavur District Railway Users’ Association (TANDRUA) held in Kumbakonam on Sunday. The meeting was chaired by association president M M Jameel.
- TANDRUA’s 63rd annual general body meeting passes resolution seeking Southern Railway’s intervention
- Existing weekly long-distance trains offer limited accommodation, while the only daily link runs through Thanjavur and Kumbakonam at midnight
- Proposed Intercity Express to connect Rameswaram, Ramanathapuram, Tiruchirappalli, Thanjavur and Kumbakonam during daytime
- Association also seeks Thanjavur–Villupuram track doubling and first-phase completion up to Mayiladuthurai before 2028 Mahamaham
Midnight connectivity leaves a daytime gap
Jameel said a significant number of migrants from Ramanathapuram district had settled in the Thanjavur region, creating a continuing need for convenient rail connectivity between the two areas.
At present, only long-distance weekly trains operate towards Rameswaram via Thanjavur, he said, adding that obtaining accommodation on these trains was “highly remote”.
The Chennai Egmore–Rameswaram Boat Mail is the only daily train connecting Thanjavur with Rameswaram, according to the association. However, it crosses Thanjavur and Kumbakonam during the midnight hours, limiting its convenience for many passengers.
“Hence a day-time Intercity Express between Rameswaram and Kumbakonam via Ramanathapuram, Trichy and Thanjavur will solve the travel needs,” Jameel said.
The proposed service would therefore provide not merely another train option but a daytime rail link across several important towns in the Cauvery delta and Ramanathapuram regions.
Track doubling tied to 2028 Mahamaham
The meeting also urged Southern Railway to mark the 150th anniversary of the formation of railway stations between Narasinganpet and Titte in Thanjavur district in February 2027 on a grand scale.
Another major resolution sought approval for doubling of the Thanjavur–Villupuram railway track, with the association urging that the Thanjavur–Mayiladuthurai section be completed in the first phase.
The association specifically called for completion of this first phase before the Mahamaham festival scheduled to be held in 2028, highlighting the expected importance of rail capacity and connectivity for the major gathering.
New team to steer railway-users’ demands
M Maran was elected president of TANDRUA for the next three years.
The other office-bearers elected were T Saravanan, vice-president; A Giri, secretary; S Mohan, treasurer; and R Natarajkumar and R Revanthkumar, joint secretaries.
Earlier, Giri presented the association’s annual report, while Saravanan proposed the vote of thanks.
The resolutions collectively put passenger convenience, daytime connectivity, additional rail capacity and infrastructure augmentation on the association’s agenda as it seeks action from Southern Railway.
