Villupuram-Mayiladuthurai section opened for passenger traffic

CHENNAI: The newly converted Villupuram - Mayiladuthurai section was opened for passenger traffic on Friday. The first train on the section, the Villupuram - Mayiladuthurai passenger, left Villupuram at 6.20 p.m. Train services in the section will be introduced in phases: Chennai Egmore-Nagore Daily Express (via. Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur) from April 24 and from April 25 in the return direction; Madurai - Chennai Egmore Biweekly Express (Thursdays and Saturdays) from April 24 and in the return direction (Fridays and Sundays) from April 25; and Chennai Egmore – Tiruchi Day Express (Daily) on April 26 from both directions.

The Varanasi - Rameswaram Weekly Express now running up to Chennai Egmore will be extended to Rameswaram via Mayiladuthurai from May 2. In the return direction it will start leaving Rameswaram from May 5 towards Varanasi. The Chennai Egmore - Rameswaram Daily Express, now running via Vriddhachalam, Tiruchi, will run via Mayiladuthurai, Kumbakonam, Tiruchi from August 1 from both ends. The Tiruchendur - Chennai Egmore Weekly Express, now running via Tiruchi, Vriddhachalam, will run via Tiruchi, Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai from July 29 and in the return direction it will run via Mayiladuthurai, Kumbakonam, Tiruchi from July 30, according to a Southern Railway press release said.