Espousing the cause of students, employees, business travellers and other sections of travelling public in Coimbatore district, Member of Parliament, Pollachi Constituency, K. Eswarasamy, voiced the demand for restoration of train services operated in pre-Independence era, in a representation to the Central Government.In a memorandum submitted to Ashwini Vaishnaw, Minister of Railways, recently, Mr. Eswarasamy sought restoration of overnight Coimbatore/ Mettupalayam - Rameswaram Express (No. 165/ 166 in 1928, and changed to No. 715/ 716 in 1987) via Podanur, Kinathukadavu, Pollachi and Palani. Likewise, Coimbatore-Tuticorin fast-passenger day train (operated with numbers 149/ 150 in 1928) must be revived, the MP said.Stoppage at Podanur Junction for Coimbatore-Mangaluru Intercity Express (22609/22610), Ernakulam-Bengaluru Intercity Express (12677/ 12678), and Ernakulam-Karaikal Express (16187/ 16188); permanent introduction of Tambaram-Podanur Junction Special Express (06185/ 06186), which was operated as a weekly special service for a short period and subsequently discontinued, in view of sustained passenger demand; and extension of Bengaluru-Coimbatore UDAY Express (No. 22665) up to Palakkad via Pollachi for improving connectivity for passengers from Pollachi, Kinathukadavu, Podanur, Palakkad and surroundings were also highlighted in the memorandum.The MP said there was a strong and long-standing demand from the public in Pollachi Constituency for a direct train to Thirunallar from Coimbatore/Podanur via Podanur, Kinathukadavu, Pollachi, Udumalpet, Palani, Oddanchathiram, Dindigul, Tiruchi, Thanjavuir, Nidamangalam, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam, Nagore, and Karaikal.The train would cover three divisions and generate high revenue for the Southern Railway, he said. Published - July 28, 2026 10:50 pm IST