CHENNAI: Tourists, who recurrently fail to get tickets in Nilgiris Mountain Rail (NMR), will soon find seats to travel in picturesque rail route in the state, as two steam engines are on the anvil of Golden Rock Railway Workshop, Tiruchy.
During a press conference, on Wednesday, Southern Railway general manager R.K. Kulshrestha told mediapersons that the NMR has been receiving good patronage among tourists.
“To cater to the increasing patronage, we are planning to introduce two more steam engine trains on the route. The steam engines are being manufactured at Golden Rock Railway Workshop, Trichy,” Kulshrestha said.
Responding to a question on the third terminal in Chennai, which is a long pending proposal, Kulshrestha said that the upgrading Royapuram station into the third terminal is not feasible. “Steps are taken to upgrade Tondiarpet railway station as the third terminal have been taken,” he added.
Kulshrestha also said that first of its kind 12 car rake EMU would be operated between MMC and Avadi railway stations and 3-phase EMU 12 car rake would be operated in Tambaram section.
Explaining about the performances of Southern Railway during April to December of 2017-18 financial year, Kulshrestha said that the zonal railway had earned '5,624 crore as originating earnings against '5,514 crore during previous
year.
“Southern Railway had operated 1,221 special trains during the period. The previous year we had operated only 639 special trains,” he added.
