Members of the Thanjavur District Railway Users Association (TANDRUA) and rail commuters accorded a warm reception to the train crew of the Ernakulam-Velankanni Express (16363) at Thanjavur Junction on Thursday.
Inquiries reveal that this service, which operated as a ‘TOD’ special service with extending the service period often, has been converted as a weekly service by the Railway Board and it had commenced its maiden journey from Ernakulam on Wednesday night.
It arrived at Thanjavur Junction on Thursday around 2.45 p.m. before reaching the destination by the evening.
Recalling the cancellation of Nagore-Kollam daily service through Thanjavur, Madurai, and Sengottah prior to the commencement of gauge conversion work taken up on this stretch, TANDRUA secretary A. Giri thanked the Railway Board for considering the long-pending demand of delta rail users seeking the revival of rail connection between delta and Kollam in Kerala.
He expressed his gratitude to the Members of Parliament representing Mavelikara and Kollam Constituencies in Kerala and Tamil Nadu BJP general secretary Karuppu Muruganandam of Thanjavur in ensuring the delta rail users’ long-pending demand was fulfilled.
