Alakkudi to be made crossing station

THANJAVUR: Alakkudi railway station between Thanjavur and Budalur stations in the Thanjavur-Tiruchi section will soon become a crossing station.
Works taken up at a cost of Rs. 6 crore for converting the single line station into a crossing station would be completed by June 2009, Southern Railway authorities said.
The single medium level platform is being converted into two high level platforms with crossing. The station will have three broad gauge lines which can accommodate 24 coach trains. A new station building is being constructed. Platform shelters are extended to a length of 80 metres. A foot overbridge is also coming up.
“Cost, including for land acquisition, points and crossing, electrical and signalling equipment comes to Rs. 6 crore,” railway authorities said.
The advantage of converting the station into a crossing station is that trains may save 10 to 15 minutes. It is possible to run more trains through Alakkudi. After the gauge conversion of Mayiladuturai-Villupuram and Tiruvarur-Nagore sections more express trains can be operated.
At present crossing is possible only at Budalur station which is 17 km from Thanjavur. So when a train leaves Budalur, no train in the opposite direction can go from Thanjavur .