Proposals submitted by SR for 2018 IRTTC
New Trains
1) Kochuveli - Nilambur Daily Overnight Express
2) Tambaram - Kollam Daily Overnight Express
3) Tambaram - Nagercoil 5 Days in a week Overnight Express...
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4) Tambaram - Santragachi Tri-Weekly Express
5) Rameswaram - Mangalore Jn. Bi-Weekly Express
6) Rameswaram - Ernakulam Bi-Weekly Express
7) Kochuveli - Kamakhya Weekly Express
8) Chennai Central - Nagercoil Via Salem Weekly Express
9) Tambaram - Madurai Tri-Weekly Overnight Express
10) Coimbatore - Tuticorin Intercity Express
Extension
1) Anuvrat Express to Madurai
2)Ernakulam Palakkad MEMU to Palakkad Town
3)Salem Katpadi MEMU to Arakkonam
4) Guwahati/Dibrugarh - Chennai Central to Tambram
Increase in frequency
1) Silambu Express to Tri-Weekly
2) 5 Pair of MEMU running in Kollam - Kottayam - Ernakulam - Alleppy to Daily.

Dedication of Gauge Conversion between Punalur – Sengottai section :
Sengottai – Punalur GC section is part of Kollam - Tirunelveli - Tiruchendur & Tenkasi - Virudunagar (357 Km) Gauge Conversion project. . The section which traverses through the Kollam district of Kerala would give a fillip to the connectivity between Tamilnadu and Kerala states.. This section will form part of the Tenkasi-Virudhunagar trunk route to Chennai. It is also linked to Kollam-Senkottai-Tenkasi-Tirunelveli-Tiruchendur route. This picturesque section draws tourists and nature enthusiasts from all over the country.
The...
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49 km Sengottai-Punalur Metre Gauge section was closed for traffic in 2010. The gauge conversion work was carried out in the difficult terrains round the clock notwithstanding the vagaries of nature. The Broad Gauge sections between Sengottai – New Aryankavu (20 Km) and Punalur – Edamann (8 Km) were commissioned during on 31.3.2017. New Aryankavu – Edamann stretch (21 km) section is the last stretch of the newly converted Punalur – Sengottai Broad Gauge Section and was commissioned on 31.3. 2018. With this, the entire Punalur – Sengottai section was commissioned for traffic.
There are 22 major bridges and 178 minor bridges in Sengottai-Punalur section. These tunnels and bridges were modified to suit BG standards. Besides renovating the five tunnels, constructed for a length of 1.8 km, a new tunnel has been dug between Thenmalai and Kazhuthurutti. . This line traverses through the Western Ghats having sharp curves of up to 10 degrees.
The rail route between Sengottai – Punalur includes the famed 13-arch heritage Bridge (Pathimoonu Kannara Palam) commissioned in 1903. This British era bridge which is 102.72 meters in length and 5.18 meters in height was constructed using the ancient Surki method of architechture.. It is now strengthened using concrete jacketing while preserving its heritage looks by fixing the walls with tiles resembling the old construction blocks.
There are no Unmanned level crossings in this section.
Total cost of Sengottai – Punalur Gauge Conversion Project is Rs. 390 crore.

DPR being prepared for developing Palakkad rail junction
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With the Union government allocating Rs. 20 crore for developing Palakkad Railway Junction into a world-class transit hub, the engineering wing of Southern Railway has begun preparing a detailed project report (DPR) for the work.
A bypass road linking the station with the Palakkad-Kozhikode national highway is among the...
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major suggestions in the DPR.
Now, the busy railway junction is accessible only through a one-km narrow road passing through a busy commercial area.
Report in a month
The report will be submitted to the Railway Board for final approval within a month and the work will be initiated soon after. The refurbished entrance will reflect the cultural traditions of the district. The main building will also be altered, making it more attractive and reflecting the the local culture.
The Railway Ministry stipulates that all the 90 stations that will be developed into world-class standards should showcase the local culture and history in the facade.
Four in State
Ernakulam Junction, Kozhikode, and Kottayam railway stations are the other stations in Kerala State which are being developed into world-class transit hubs along with 86 other stations in other States.
A number of passenger amenities, including CCTV cameras, digital display boards, free internet connectivity, modular water kiosks, water dispensing units, lifts, escalators, stainless steel benches, and modular catering kiosks will be part of the developed stations. All the platforms will have lifts and elevators. Retiring rooms with modern amenities, and ramps and other facilities for differently abled will also be arranged.
Facilities at the railway hospital near the Palakkad Junction will also be improved. A satellite track maintenance machine depot to facilitate fully mechanised track repairing and cleaning in the entire Palakkad division will also be set up. Presently, track maintenance machines are sourced by the division from Chennai. Southern Railway has also initiated the process of developing the food plaza at Palakkad Junction by adding nine more outlets, including one by Kudumbasree.
Source : click here