Two train services to benefit Coimbatore

An increase in frequency of service of the Coimbatore — Tirupati Inter-city Express from three days to four days and flagging off of the Coimbatore — Rameswaram — Coimbatore Weekly Express on September 12 and September 17, respectively, is expected to bring cheer to rail users in Coimbatore. Both the services were announced in the Union Railway Budget in February. Now, the Southern Railway and Salem Division are making arrangements to introduce the services.
    
   At present, Train Number 22616 (CBE-TPTY) is operated on Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays leaves Coimbatore at 6am and reaches Tirupati at 1.40pm. In the return direction, Train Number 22615 is operated on Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays and leaves Tirupati at 2.50pm and reaches Coimbatore at 10.40pm. As announced in the budget, Salem Division is planning to increase the frequency of the train from three to four days by bringing in the operation of the services on Thursdays as well.
 

   Similarly, under a rake sharing arrangement (sharing of coaches and locomotive) with the Coimbatore — Rajkot Express (Train No 16613/16614), Salem Division plans to introduce the Coimbatore — Rameswaram — Coimbatore Weekly Express (Train Number 16617/16618). The rakes of the Coimbatore — Rajkot Express lie idle at Coimbatore from Tuesday morning (2am) to Thursday night (11.45pm.) Under the rake sharing arrangement, Train Number 16617 will depart Coimbatore at 7.45pm on Tuesdays to reach Rameswaram on Wednesday morning at 6.45am. In the return direction, it would depart as Train Number 16618 from Rameswaram at 7.00pm and reach Coimbatore at 6.40am on Thursdays. The rakes would be taken up for maintenance at Coimbatore during day time on Tuesday and Thursday.