Stage set for rail traffic on Tiruvarur - Pattukottai line
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Statutory clearance given by Commissioner of Railway Safety
After carrying out detailed inspection on the newly laid broad gauge track in the Tiruvarur- Tiruthuraipundi - Pattukottai section in the delta region, the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, has given his mandatory sanction for operation of passenger and freight services on the...
more... gauge converted line.
The sanction is subject to a series of stipulations laid down by the Commissioner of Railway Safety to be adhered to. While according his authorisation for opening the nearly 75-km broad gauge stretch, the Commissioner of Railway Safety has clearly specified the maximum permissible speed of 75 kilometre per hour from Pattukottai to Thillaivilagam and 60 km from Thillaivilagam to Tiruthuraipundi.
The sanction from the Commissioner of Railway Safety came on March 31 after he conducted inspection on the single line section for a period of four days from March 26 to 29 accompanied by top officers of the Southern Railway, the Southern Railway Construction Organisation and the Tiruchi Railway Division besides carrying out a speed trial on board a special train.
The statutory clearance has now paved the way for resumption of rail traffic in this section after a gap of over five years when the line was closed for gauge conversion project executed by the Southern Railway Construction Organisation.
Maintenance staff
In the communication sent to the Southern Railway headquarters, the Commissioner of Railway has clearly stipulated that adequate number of maintenance staff should be posted to maintain the converted line prior to opening the line for passenger services.
The Commissioner of Railway Safety in the authorisation letter communicated to the Southern Railway headquarters, Southern Railway Construction Organisation and Tiruchi Railway Divisional authorities has also stipulated that all passenger amenity works should be completed at all stations.
Adequate road learning of the crew should be ensured before introducing passenger trains on the gauge converted single line section, it further said.
The detailed letter contained a host of works to be carried out in respect of station amenities, permanent way, signal and telecommunications.
The letter further states that satisfactory compliance of the stipulations should be submitted. Railway officials said it might take some time for operating rail services in the new BG track since the pending essential works had to be completed in this section.
Further, the Southern Railway Construction Organisation which executed the project would have to hand over the section to the Tiruchi Railway Division for operation of rail traffic, said an official.