Rameswaram-Tirupati Express to run four days a week from March 3

The Railway Board has approved the increase in frequency of the Rameswaram-Tirupati- Rameswaram Express (16780/16779) operated via Tiruchi. The tri-weekly service will now operate four days a week.

The Rameswaram-Tirupati Express (16780) will operate on every Tuesday too, in addition to Thursday, Friday, and Sunday, with effect from March 3. In the return direction, the train (16799) will operate on every Wednesday, in addition to Monday, Friday, and Saturday, from March 4. There will be no change in the composition, timings, and stops.

MP welcomes decision

Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko welcomed the increase in the frequency of the service, along with the regularisation of the Tiruchi-Tambaram train as important developments which would benefit the people of Tiruchi.

Welcoming the move, A. Giri, secretary of Thanjavur District Railway Users Association, said the public demand was to make it a daily service ever since it was made a tri-weekly service 13 years ago after the gauge conversion.

“The service was originally operated between Tiruchi and Tirupati before being extended to Madurai and Rameswaram and prior to the gauge conversion, it was a daily service. The train should be restored as a daily service,” Mr. Giri said.

Mr. Giri suggested slight modification in the schedule of the Rameswaram-Tirupati train as it reached Tirupati at 10.10 a.m. “Originally, it used to reach Tirupati around 6 a.m. which was convenient for devotees,” Mr. Giri said and added that the departure from Rameswaram could be slightly advanced and the train speed could be increased.