Title - Trial run revives hopes of train services to Pollachi from Palani

The recent trial run of a cargo special with seven wagons and an engine from Palani till Gomangalam near Udumalpet has revived the hopes for train services on the Palani – Udumalpet – Pollachi section after a gap of nearly three years.The Podanur – Pollachi – Udumalpet – Palani – Dindigul section was taken up for gauge conversion works three years ago, resulting in the suspension of the meter gauge train services. Now, the gauge conversion was completed and after inspection by Commissioner Rail Safety, passenger train services were resumed between Dindigul and Palani. Works are progressing in the 64 km stretch of the Palani – Udumalpet - Pollachi section.A couple of days before, the Madurai Division of Southern Railway operated a goods train with seven wagons hauled by an engine from Palani to Gomangalam between Udumalpet and Pollachi. The trial run was to check the stability of the tracks and the structural stability of the bridges and culverts. Now, the works are in full swing between Gomangalam and Pollachi, including the works at the Pollachi Railway Station. With 90 per cent of the works over, the authorities expect the same to be over by March. After inspection in April, officials hope to resume the passenger train services from Pollachi to Palani from May this year. Only the works in respect of Pollachi – Podanur section for 40 km and Pollachi – Palakkad section for 55 km were progressing at a slow pace because of land acquisition and contractual failures respectively. A GO was issued recently by the Tamil Nadu Government for land acquisition for expediting the gauge conversion of the Podanur – Pollachi section while the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway was now stepping up efforts for speedy completion of the conversion of this section as well.