Extension of Validity of Southern Railway Time Table and Trains at a Glance

The current  Southern Railway Time Table & Trains at a Glance – from 1st September, 2014 to 30th June, 2015 – will remain valid till 30th September, 2015.   The new Time Table will come into force on 1st October, 2015. 

T. No.06065/06066 Chennai Central – Ernakulam – Chennai Central Superfast Special train via Salem, Erode, Tiruppur and Coimbatore

To meet the public demand, the following special trains are being operated between Chennai Central and Ernakulam, via Salem, Erode, Tiruppur and Coimbatore

Train No.06065 Chennai Central – Ernakulam Jn. superfast special train will leave Chennai Central at 22.30 hrs. o­n 03.07.2015 & 10.07.2015 and reach Ernakulam Jn. at 10.50 hrs. the next day.

Train No. 06066 Ernakulam Jn. – Chennai Central superfast special train will leave Ernakulam Jn. at 19.00 hrs. o­n 05.07.2015 and 12.07.2015 and reach Chennai Central at 07.15 hrs. the next day.

Detailed timings:

T.No.06065 Superfast Spl.	¯	Station	­	T.No.06066 Superfast Spl.
(Fri) 22.30	(d)	Chennai Central	(a)	07.15 (Mon)
---	---	Perambur	(a/d)	06.33/06.35
23.28/23.30	(a/d)	Arakkonam	(a/d)	05.43/ 05.45
(Sat) 00.18/00.20	(a/d)	Katpadi	(a/d)	04.53/ 04.55
01.38/01.40	(a/d)	Jolarpettai	(a/d)	03.43/03.45
03.17 /03.20	(a/d)	SALEM	(a/d)	01.50/01.55
04.25/04.30	(a/d)	ERODE	(a/d)	00.50/00.55
05.13/05.15	(a/d)	TIRUPPUR	(a/d)	00.08/00.10 (Mon)
06.25/06.40	(a/d)	COIMBATORE	(a/d)	23.10/23.25
07.50/07.55	(a/d)	Palakkad	(a/d)	21.45/21.50
08.18/08.20	(a/d)	Ottapalam	(a/d)	21.13/21.15
09.10/09.13	(a/d)	Thrisur	(a/d)	20.00/20.03
09.58/10.00	(a/d)	Aluva	(a/d)	19.20/19.22
10.18/10.20	(a/d)	Ernakulam Town	--	--
(Sat)10.50	(a)	Ernakulam Jn.	(d)	19.00 (Sun)

Composition of the trains:  AC 2-tier – 1, AC 3-tier – 1, Sleeper Class – 12 & Luggage-cum-brake van – 2 coaches.

Stoppages:  Arakkonam, Katpadi, Jolarpettai, Salem, Erode, Tiruppur, Coimbatore, Palakkad, Ottapalam, Thrissur, and Aluva.  Train No.06065 Chennai Central – Ernakulam Jn. superfast special train will stop at Ernakulam Town also.  Train No.06066 Ernakulam Jn. – Chennai Central superfast special train will stop at Perambur also.

Advance reservations for the trains has commenced o­n 25.06.2015.

Permanent addition of a coach in Coimbatore-Lokmanya Tilak (Kurla) Express

Train No.11013/11014 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus – Coimbatore – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus express trains will be permanently augmented by 1 General Second Class Coach ex. Lokmanya Tilak Terminus from 01.07.2015 and ex. Coimbatore from 03.07.2015. 

Permanent increase in the number of coaches in Coimbatore-Jaipur-Coimbatore Weekly Express

Train No.12970/12969 Jaipur – Coimbatore – Jaipur weekly express trains will be permanently augmented by One AC 3-tier Coach ex. Jaipur from 16.06.2015 and ex. Coimbatore from 19.06.2015. 

Hon’ble Tiruppur Member of Parliament declares open the second entry to the Tiruppur Railway station, inaugurates the Solar Power Plant and inspects the Tiruppur station

As part of the activities by Salem Division, Southern Railway, in the Customer Facilitation Fortnight observed by Indian Railways from 26.05.2015 to 09.06.2015, the second entry to the Tiruppur was declared open by Smt V. Satyabama, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Tirupur today (09.06.2015). This second entry has a passenger waiting hall for the use by rail passengers. The second entry to the station was constructed at a cost of Rs.40 lakhs. She also inaugurated the Solar Power Plant installed in the Tiruppur junction. The on-grid type 3 kVA capacity Solar Power Plant has been installed at a cost of Rs.3.13 lakhs and is capable of producing 11-13 units of electricity per day. The solar plant was one of the green energy initiatives by the Salem Division and is the third one in the series of Solar Power Plants installed in Stations, after Athur and Salem Junctions.

Smt. A. Visalakshi, Hon’ble Mayor, Municipal Corporation of Tirupur, Sri G.Govindaraj, District Collector, Tirupur, also accompanied the Hon’ble Tirupur MP during her visit to Tirupur Junction.

During the discussions with Shri Shubhranshu, Divisional Railway Manager, Salem Division, Smt V. Satyabama, Hon’ble MP, enquired about the stoppage of booking of parcels at Tiruppur junction. Shri Shubhranshu clarified that as per rules, parcels cannot be booked in trains which stop less than 5 minutes in a station and in accordance with that rule, parcel booking has been regulated. He, however, assured Hon’ble MP that already discussions were held with the Tiruppur traders and it was advised to them to pool booking of parcels, so that Special Parcel Trains can be operated from Tirupur, on fixed dates, under DRM’s powers.  When the demand from the public for construction of a second Foot Over Bridge (FOB) and setting up of a Vegetarian Refreshment Room (VRR) at Tirupur was discussed, DRM assured that it would be looked into. 

For a request by the District Collector for setting up of a pharmacy in Tiruppur Junction, DRM clarified that medicines could be supplied only against a physician’s prescription or otherwise a doctor should be available round the clock if such a pharmacy is set up, which is not practicable.  However, he assured the District Collector that steps will be taken to set up a emergency medical care centre in Tirupur junction, with the help of the local hospitals.

Later, Smt. V. Satyabama, Hon’ble MP, inspected the Tirupur junction, along with the Hon’ble Tirupur Mayor, Tirupur District Collector, Shri Shubhranshu, DRM, and other Salem Division Officials. Sri K.P. Damodaran, Sr. Divl. Commercial Manager, Sri. Ma. Vignavelu, Sr. Divl. Engineer/Co-ordination, Sri P. Kamban, Sr. Divl. Financial Manager, Sri V. Babu, Sr. Divl. Signal & Telecommunications Engineer, Sri Ajay Jaiswal, Divl. Mechanical Engineer, were present on the occasion. 

Hon’ble MP, Coimbatore declares open the newly constructed station building in North Coimbatore Railway Station

Sri P. Nagarajan, Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Coimbatore, declared open the new station building at North Coimbatore junction today, in the presence Shri P.R. Natarajan, Former Member of Parliament, Coimbatore, Sheri Shubhranshu, Divisional Railway Manager, Salem Division, Southern Railway, and other Salem Division officials.

The new station building was constructed at a cost of Rs. 35 lakhs which was totally met from the MPLAD funds of former Coimbatore Member of Parliament Sri P.R. Natarajan. The new station building has a built up area of about 500 sq.ft. and the Advance Ticket Booking Centre, Station Master Room that are presently functioning at the old station building will be shifted to the new building and the unreserved tickets counter will continue to function from the old building itself.

When Hon’ble MP discussed with DRM, he raised the long pending issue of a night train from Coimbatore to Bangalore, DRM explained to him such decisions are taken at the Railway Ministry level and requested the Hon’ble MP to take up the matter with Hon’ble Minister for Railways. On a questing by Hon’ble MP on stoppage of express trains at Peelamedu station, DRM explained that since the present platform length at Peelamedu is not long enough to hold express trains that are 24 coach long, once the platform length is increased, stoppage of express trains will be considered, he assured. When the goods shed workers represented to DRM for provision of bathing and washing facilities at North Coimbatore station, he instructed to keep the present facilities open to them, and it was immediately done.

Later, Sri P. Nagarajan, Hon’ble MP, inspected the Coimbatore North Railway Station along with DRM and other officials of Salem Division, and expressed his satisfaction over the developmental works carried by the Railways in the Station.

Later, addressing the media persons, Shri Shubhranshu said that the opening of the new station building is the first step towards decongestion of Coimbatore junction by way of terminating a few trains at Coimbatore North station, and making it a second terminal. He further stated that the Commissioner for Railway Safety (Southern Circle) will be inspecting the newly electrified section between Coimbatore North and Mettupalayam, tomorrow (10.06.2015) which may help in operating more trains from Mettupalayam and enable trains with electric locos reach Mettupalayam from North Coimbatore, directly without touching Coimbatore main junction.  On a specific question by media persons on making the railway stations more disabled friendly, DRM replied that all the major stations in Salem Division are disabled friendly, with romps for easy entry with wheel chairs, and lifts/ escalators are already in place in most of these stations and more stations are to be made disabled-passengers friendly.

Salem Division Southern Railway conducts Electrical Safety Awareness Program in Salem Junction

As part of the Customer Facilitation Fortnight being observed all over Indian Railways up to 9^th June 2015, today Shri R.K. Kulsreshta, Chief Electrical Engineer, Southern Railway, Chennai, participated in the Electrical Safety Awareness Program conducted the Electrical Branch of Salem Division, Southern Railway, at Salem Junction today (07.06.2015).

He interacted with the rail passengers and general public and emphasised the importance of safely using the electrical provisions in the coaches as well as in station premises. He advised them not to use the mobile phone charging plugs provided in the railway coaches for any other gadget and also not to overload them by using extension boxes, etc., as that will lead to failure in the train lighting batteries.  He also distributed handouts/pamphlets to rail passengers that contained various electrical safety slogans such as advising them not to throw waste things inside the fans and electrical switch boxes inside the coaches.

He also inspected the cleaning fans and other electrical fittings carried out by the electrical branch staff of Salem Division, and participated in the cleaning works. Shri S. Rengarajan, Sr. Divisional Electrical Engineer, General, Salem Division, accompanied him during his inspection.

DRM, Salem inspects Karur Junction

Shri Shubhranshu, Divisional Railway Manager, Salem, inspected the Karur Junction today (04.06.2015) as part the Customer Facilitation Fortnight that is being observed all over Indian Railways from 26.05.2015. 

He participated in the Cleaning Campaign along with the  scouts and guides from the Bharani Park Matriculation School, and the volunteers of the Vidhya Mandhir, Karur, Govt. Higher Secondary School, Vangal, and the Jayaprakahsh Middle School, Karur, and also witnessed a skit by them on cleanliness, in the station premises.  He also launched the 2 Automated Ticket Vending Machines (ATVMs) installed in the Karur station, for the use of rail passengers. He planted a tree sapling in the Karur junction premises. He also launched the wall painting works in the Karur  junction premises, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Karur City and the Rotary Club of Karur Tex City. The office bearers of the Rotary club assured DRM all possible help and participation to improve the amenities at Karur junction.

While interacting with the passengers in Karur Junction, some of them represented to Shri Shubhranshu, that parking fee is demanded from the vehicles who just come to drop the passengers and Shri Shubhranshu assured that necessary instructions will be issued to stop such demands. For a representation by a differently abled passenger to provide separate parking facility for such passengers, Shri Shubhranshu, explained to him that such facility is already available in Karur junction.

Later, while addressing the media persons, Shri Shubhranshu said that recommendations have been made for upgrading the present Salem Karur passenger rake with modern Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) rakes which have more seating capacity. He also said that steps are being taken to extend the Salem Karur up to Trichchirappalli and Thanjavur. He also mentioned that such DEMUs are sought for a few passenger trains running in Salem Division such as Salem-Mettur Dam Passenger train, etc, He said that the ATVMs will help to reduce the rush in ticket counters and ensure quick purchase of unreserved tickets, platform tickets and renewal season tickets, using the Smart Card, issued by Railways. He said that 15 such machines have been installed in 9 stations of Salem Division. He also said that water coolers and RO water plants have been installed in various stations to take care of the summer heat. 

Earlier, he met Smt S. Jayandhi, District Collector, Karur, and discussed the mechanism of interaction with the State Government and Railways in which the grievances pertaining to railways that are coming to the knowledge of district administration and the ways to redress them. Shri Shubhranshu assured that the Station Master, Karur, will be representing Southern Railway Salem Division, in the monthly meetings held by Collector with public representatives, to improve the services rendered in Karur junction.  

International Level Crossing Awareness Day observed at Salem Division Southern Railway

International Level Crossing Awareness Day was observed today (03.06.2015) at Salem Division Southern Railway.  As part of the campaign, to create awareness among the general public on safely using the level crossings and to avoid loss of human lives, counseling sessions were conducted at various Gram Panchayats, Schools and pamphlets carrying safety measures to be observed while using Level Crossings, were distributed among road users.  Road shows were also conducted with skit and dramas, audio visual warning messages, in various places within the jurisdiction of Salem Division.  The road show van will travel from Salem to Karur and meet general public, road users and rail users with a view to create awareness among them.  

While meeting the media representatives, Sri Shubhranshu, Divisional Railway Manager, Salem Division, said that both the Indian Railways Act and various Road Safety Rules were framed only with a view to eliminate loss of human lives at the level crossings. He said when compared to the LC accident/death records of various countries such as USA (287 deaths in 2087 accidents), the death toll in Indian Railways is very less (231 people died in 58 accidents).  As far as Salem Division is concerned, in the last year, there were only 2 incidents, in which 1 person has died, he added. In the overall safety history of Salem Division, he said that in the last 8 years of existence of Salem Division, there were 15 accidents happened, in which 14 people died and 16 injured. He said that however, the ultimate aim of the Salem Division is to bring down the casualties of LC accidents to Nil. 

Shri Shubhranshu further said that Out of the 317 Level Crossings in Salem Division, 79 are unmanned and these unmanned level crossings will be eliminated in phases by manning, by diverting the traffic to nearby road, by construction of Limited Use Subway (LUS) or  Road Over Bridget (ROB) with the assistance of the State Government.  He thanked the active support by various District Collectors within the Salem Division in helping to achieve this target. He said that in the meantime 35 Level Crossing Helpers called Gate Mitras have been positioned in unmanned level crossings to regulate the traffic in such LCs and to educate the public on safe crossing. 

While expressing satisfaction over the growth of awareness among public on safe usage of level crossings thanks to the  active role of media, Shri Shubhranshu said that Salem Division is arranging to telecast clippings on ‘Safe Crossing of unmanned Level Crossings’ in local television channels, showing of slides in 15 cinema theatres, airing of public safety awareness program in Kodai FM channel, distribution of pens, pencils, erasers printed with safety slogans to school children and an SMS campaign to mobile users.

Shri R.S. Sinha, Addl. Divisional Railway Manager, Salem Division, Sri B.S. Rajan, Sr.Divisional Safety Officer, Salem Division, Sri Ma. Vignavelu, Sr.Divisional Engineer/Co-ordination, Salem Division, were present during the Press Meet. 

Reopening Day Celebrations of Railway High School, Erode

Shri Shubhranshu, Divisional Railway Manager, Salem Division, Southern Railway, attended the School re -opening function of the Railway Mixed High School at Erode, today (03.06.2015).  The School was started in the year 1915-16 is completing 100 years since then, and the Centenary of the School is being celebrated this year (2015-16).  The school is  having about 525 students with 30 teachers.  In the current  year, the school has switched over from the  Samacheer Kalvi system of teaching (State Board) to Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) from  Classes 1 to 9. Class 10 will be migrated to CBSE next year.  The school has the distinction of producing 100 % results for the past 5 years consecutively and 25 students have got Centum in various subjects with a student getting 494 marks out of 500 as first marks. In  appreciation of the excellent teaching by the teachers of the school and the Head Master of the School Shri M. Dasan, Shri Shubhranshu handed over a group cash award of Rs.10,000/- to   them.  He also presented shields to students who had secured top three positions. During the function, he planted  a tree sapling in the school premises. Shri G. Janarthanan, Divisional Personnel Officer of Salem Division, also participated in the function.

Mid-Pension Adalat 2015 at Salem Division Southern Railway

The Personnel Branch of the Southern Railway, Salem Division, is conducting a mid-Pension adalat at 10.30 Hrs. on 10.07.2015 in the Railway Officers' Club, (Behind New Divisional Office Building), Salem. Hence,retired railway pensioners, family pensioners and other beneficiaries may represent their grievance, if any, on pension/family pension related matters, in writing addressed to the Divisional Personnel Officer, Salem Division, Southern Railway, Salem 636005, so as to reach him on or before 05.06.2015.  It is to be noted that matters pertaining to court cases, Disciplinary action cases and policy matters will not be entertained during the Pension Adalat.  

Chief Commercial Manager, Southern Railway participates in the Cleanliness Campaign held at Salem Junction

As part of Indian Railways’ Customer Facilitation Fortnight being observed from 26.05.2015 to 09.06.2015, Salem Division, Southern Railway is conducting various programs including Cleanliness Campaigns in all the Railway Stations in Salem Division. In the Cleanliness Campaign conducted today (02.06.2015) at Salem Junction, Smt Sarla Balagopal, Chief Commercial Manager, Southern Railway, participated in the activities, along with Shri Shubhranshu, Divisional Railway Manager, Salem.

Volunteers from Sri Gokulam College of Nursing, Salem, took up cleaning of the Salem Junction premises along with the officers and staff of Salem Division. A Cleanliness Pledge was administered to the volunteers assuring the keep the railway station premises and surroundings clean and tidy and to guide everyone to help in keeping them clean always. Smt Sarla Balagopal and Shri Shubhranshu also joined the cadres and volunteers in the cleaning activities.

Thereafter, Smt Sarla Balagopal, inspected the station premises and interacted with the passengers. She also inspected the newly installed Automated Ticket Vending Machine in the Salem Junction and asked the passengers to make the maximum use of the ATVMs to reduce the last minute rush in the unreserved ticket counters. She also handed over mementos to the volunteers who participated in the cleaning activities.

Addressing the media persons, Smt. Sarla Balagopal said that 15 ATVMs have been installed in 9 stations of Salem Division and they are getting very good response in all the stations. She said that the 5% bonus value added to the card at the time of recharge is an added advantage for purchase of unreserved tickets, platform tickets and renewal season tickets, apart from avoiding long queues in the ticket counters.  She added that for the first time in India, Southern Railway has launched a mobile application for purchase tickets for the suburban trains in Chennai, which has received very wide welcome among the commuters, and said that the facility will be expanded to other Divisions also in phases. She also expressed her satisfaction on the performance of Salem Division, on various fronts, including revenue and customer facilitation by way of adding amenities to passengers in all the stations. 

Hon’ble MP, Kallakurichi, travels in the Salem Vridhachalam DEMU passenger train along with DRM, Salem Division, Southern Railway, and interacts with rail passengers

As part of the Indian Railways’ Customer Facilitation Fortnight from 26.05.2015 to 09.06.2015, today (01.06.2015), Dr. K. Kamaraj, Hon’ble MP, Kallakurichi Constituency, travelled in the Salem-Vridhachalam Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) Passenger Train along with Shri Shubhranshu, Divisional Railway Manager, Salem Division, Southern Railway, and interacted with the passengers.

During the interaction, many passengers expressed their appreciation and happiness on the comfort and convenience of the new DEMU train recently introduced in the Salem-Vridhachalam section. In particular, they were happy about the increased seating capacity in the DEMU and also the improved modern row type cushion seats with improved ventilation and lumination in the new design coaches and also the hand rails provided for the standing passengers. A few passengers demanded extension of the DEMU train from Vridhachalam-Salem to Erode-Tirupur-Coimbatore and also replacement of the present Karaikal-Bangaluru Passenger train coaches with the DEMU rakes, for which DRM replied that the same will be considered and a proposal will be sent to this effect to head quarters. Some of the passengers wanted a Vegetarian Refreshment Restaurant (VRR) at Athur, and DRM assured them that steps will be taken to start the VRR therein. Some of the passengers felt that the stoppage time for the Salem-Chennai Egmore Express at Athur, as the elderly passengers could not board the train within that short time, DRM assured that it will be considered. 

During his discussions with Shri Shubhranshu, Dr. K. Kamaraj, Hon’ble MP, Kallakurichi, wanted the project for rail link from Kallakurichi to Ulundurpet which was originally proposed in 2006 but could not be taken up for want of funds, be taken up on priority, DRM assured him that the matter will be pursued with the head quarters. When Hon’ble MP discussed the issue of putting up new halt stations in  Sarvai and Kattukottai, DRM explained to him that it can be taken up under the Shramdhan scheme for which the local body of the respective area has to send a proposal accepting to share the costs. To a proposal by Hon’ble MP, Kallakurichi, on construction of a Foot Over Bridge at Chinna Salem and stoppage of the Puducherry-Mangalore Express at Pukravari station near Vridhachalam, Shri Shubhranshu assured him that necessary proposals for the same will be forwarded to headquarters for consideration. Hon’ble MP also inspected the Automated Ticket Vending Machine installed in the Chinna Salem Station and Shri Shubhranshu explained to Hon’ble MP the salient features of the ATVM.