Peralam railway station in Tiruvarur district.
| Photo Credit: File picture B. VELANKANNI RAJ

The new Karaikal – Peralam broad gauge section saw the operation of loaded goods trains for the first time on Wednesday after the 23.5 km electrified stretch was cleared for operation of train services by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle Bengaluru late last month.

Two rakes of goods trains transporting coal fom Karaikal Port to Puduchathram near Chidambaram in Cuddalore district for a private power plant were operated on the new line, said railway sources. Each goods rake consisted of 59 wagons. The Karaikal – Peralam BG section is witnessing the resumption of train services after a gap of 40 years.

Railway sources said gatekeepers had already been deployed at the seven level crossing gates which fall along this section and a station master having been posted at Thirunallar. The section has Karai Kovilpathu, Thirunallar, Pattakkudi and Ambagarattur railway stations enroute. Barring Thirunallar which is a crossing station, the remaining three are halt stations, said the sources. Peralam has become a railway junction following the construction of the new line.

The Tiruchi Railway Division has decided to engage Train Halt Agents at Ambagarattur, Pattakkudi and Karai Kovilpathu stations on this section to issue unreserved tickets to travellers on commission basis. The Commercial Branch of the Tiruchi Division has called for an Expression of Interest (EOI) for engagement of Train Halt Agents at the three halt stations for a period of five years.

The eligibility criteria and the nature of work has been clearly spelt out in the EOI as per which the Halt Agent shall issue Pre-printed UTS tickets and Pre-printed season tickets only. The Halt Agent shall purchase the Pre-printed UTS and season tickets on payment from the Depot station and shall sell the tickets at the respective halt station.