Chennai-Kollam rail line to be reopened in March ’17

The famed Quilon Mail train service connecting Chennai and Kollam (in Kerala) could be back on track next year with the 49-km gauge conversion between Sengottai in Tamil Nadu and Punalur in Kerala’s Western Ghats to be over by March 2017, said PK Mishra, Chief Administrative Officer, Construction, Southern Railway.

From Chennai to Madurai, the train will be on double track. However, from Madurai to Kollam via Virudhunagar, Tenkasi, Sengottai and Punalur, it will be single track, he told Business Line .

The erstwhile train no 6105/6106 Kollam-Chennai Egmore Mail train was introduced in 1904 after the completion of Quilon-Sengottai-Virudhunagar metre gauge line. It was renamed Quilon-Madras Mail and extended up to Thiruvanthapuram in 1918 after completion of the Kollam-Tiruvanthapuram metre gauge line.

Quilon Mail had the distinction of being one of the earliest metre gauge trains to have air-conditioned and first class coaches. The service was discontinued in June 2000 once the gauge conversion process started, said Mishra.

Mishra said the Centre is focussing on doubling of lines. The annual allocation for doubling in Southern Railway in the last few years used to be around ₹200 crore. However, for 2016-17 the allocation has been increased to around ₹325 crore.

The Railway Board has sanctioned a doubling project from Madurai to Nagercoil in two segments. The first is from Madurai to Maniyachichi Junction (80 km) and the other is Maniyachichi to Nagercoil (170 km). The entire stretch will be undertaken by Rail Vikas Nigam Ltd at total cost of ₹2,000 crore, he said.

The construction wing of the Southern Railway on its part will take up the doubling work from Thiruvanthapuram to Kanyakumari (85 km) and from Ambalapuzha and Turavur (50 km) in Kerala at a total cost off ₹2,000 crore, he said.

The present routes to Thiruvanthapuram from Chennai are via Katpadi, Salem, Palakkad and Chengannur; and via Villuparam, Tiruchy, Madurai and Nagercoil. Track doubling work on the second route is currently on.

The gauge conversion between Sengottai and Punalur will provide the third route to Thiruvananthapuram via Madurai, Tenkasi, Sengottai and Kollam.

Once the track doubling and gauge conversion works are completed, travel time from Chennai to Thiruvanthapuram on the two routes via Madurai will save nearly three to four hours, he said.