The Thanjavur District Rail Users’ Association (TANDRUA) has reiterated its plea to the Southern Railway to favourably consider the long-pending demand for track doubling between Thanjavur and Villupuram on the main line.In a statement on Monday, the association welcomed the completion of electrification work between Pattukottai and Karaikudi and pointed out that Southern Railway’s notification that charging of Overhead Electric Traction between Pattukottai and Karaikudi by July 25, would result in completion of the prolonged electrification process between Thiruthuraipoondi and Karaikudi on the newly laid broad gauge line from Tiruvarur to Karaikudi.With the electrification of the 70-km stretch from Pattukottai to Karaikudi was all set to reduce the running time of the trains operated via. Pattukottai to Tambaram, Ramesharam, Sengottai, Karaikudi, and Mayiladuthurai as the locomotive changes would be done away with, the association felt that doubling of the track between Thanjavur and Villupuram via Mayiladuthurai would bring additional benefits to commuters on the main line section.Because, the newly laid and to be fully electrified section of Tiruvarur-Karaikudi has been tacked on with the main line section at Mayiladuthurai from Tiruvarur railway junction via. Peralam.Thus, the association felt doubling of the main line section from Thanajvur to Villupuram via Mayiladuthurai would boost the chances of introducing few long distance services via Pattukottai.Meanwhile, office-bearers of several rail users’ associations along the main line section and along the recently and newly laid Mayiladuthurai-Tiruvarur-Karaikudi BG sections lamented that delayed arrival and departure of passenger trains at the intermediate stations on these sections have become a regular feature.What was more irking for the commuters, they said, was that even the trains categorised as ‘super fast’ services for which additional charges were collected from the passengers, were regulated at intermediate stations to ensure crossing of other trains, on the single track between Thanjavur and Villupuram via Mayiladuthurai and on the Mayiladuthurai-Tiruvarur-Karaikudi section. Published - July 13, 2026 06:36 pm IST