COIMBATORE: The Podanur Train Users Association on Thursday submitted a petition to the Salem divisional railway manager demanding an additional track between Coimbatore North and Mettupalayam railway stations. The association highlighted that the existing single track had limited the movement of train services from North Coimbatore station.
The petition was submitted by association general secretary N Subramanian to the divisional railway manager. The demand was raised in view of the growing passenger traffic and future railway expansion plans, it said.
It said, “This is a public appeal that highlights the need for upgrading the existing single-line section connecting Coimbatore North and Mettupalayam. This request is very timely because the Southern Railway is undertaking major infrastructure improvements at Mettupalayam railway station with plans to develop it as a terminal station. Once these works are completed, Southern Railway has indicated that additional train services may originate from Mettupalayam, and some existing services could be extended up to the station. The proposal has received a positive response from residents of Coimbatore and Mettupalayam. To support these services, a single track is insufficient and needs to be converted to a double line.”
The petition pointed out that the current infrastructure limited train movement and constrained the introduction of new passenger and express services. Doubling the line would enhance capacity, improve operational efficiency, reduce delays and enable the introduction of additional train services, it said.
