Introduction of Erode – Palakkad Town – Erode ‘Memu’ train a boon for the Palakkad –Coimbatore –Tirupur – Erode region.

( Madan Menon Thottasseri)

              Inaugural run of PGT- Erode Memu train on 12.05.2013 at 11.15 am

Coimbatore Railway Struggle Committee flags off the inaugural run of Palakkad Town - Erode MEMU  at the Coimbatore Jn. on Sunday 12.05.2013

The much awaited Erode – Palakkad – Erode MEMU ( Mainline Electrical Multiple Units) train had its inaugural run from Palakkad Town on 12th May,2013. The formal operation of Train No. 6609 had commenced its journey from Erode on 13th May (Monday), 2013 at 7.45 hrs and reached at Palakkad Town at 12.30 hrs. In return direction, the Train No. 6608 had left at 14.30 hrs and reached Erode at 19.00 hrs. This is the schedule of the train that will run every day except Thursday. The train with nine coaches with a capacvity to carry 900 passengers is expected to provide the much-needed connectivity to towns and villages in the Palakkad - Erode section.

The Palakkad Town – Erode  Memu train ( Except Thursday) will help passengers from twin towns ( despite in two states )- Palakkad and Coimbatore towards Bangalore and Chennai etc. while they can get connecting trains coming through Madurai – Dindigul – Erode section enroute to these cities. For passengers’ information, the Weekly train - Nagarcoil – B’lore Express arrives at Erode at 21.00 hrs (only on Saturday). The Mayiladuthurai – Mysore express (Daily) arrives at Erode at 22.35 hrs. Yercaud Express (Daily) to Chennai will originate from Erode at 21.00 hrs. It is to be noted that the Memu train from Palakkad Town reaches Erode at 19.00 hrs (7 pm) facilitating to board on these trains. Coimbatore passengers can depend on TNo,608 Coimbatore – Erode Passenger leaving at 18.25 hrs that reaches Erode at 20.50 hrs, connecting the Yercaud Express, but elderly people and women travelers with luggage will have tenseness due to limited time to  alight and change train at Erode.

Reservations in above mentioned trains can be tried when accommodation is not available from trains passing through PGT Jn/ Coimbatore/Podanur. The only disadvantage is the loss of time especially to passengers from Palakkad as they have to leave in the afternoon (instead of late evening/night).

Similarly those travelling towards Palakkad or Coimbatore  from Mysore,Bangalore,Chennai etc. can alight at Erode in early morning ( from trains towards Madurai, Nagarcoil etc via. Karur/Dindigul) and get on board the Erode – Palakkad Town Memu Train at  7.45 hrs. For instance, Yercaud Expree (Daily) leaving Chennai Central at 22.40 hrs will terminate at Erode at 6.25 hrs on the next day. Bangalore – Nagarcoil Express (Weekly Train Via. Hosur – Salem-  Erode – Karur – DGL- Madurai ) leaving Bangalore  City at 23.05 on Thursday and arrives at Erode at 5.10 hrs on Friday. Of course, passengers coming by these two trains will find it convenient to travel by the Erode – Coimbatore Passenger (Daily/T.No.607) leaving Erode at 7.05 hrs, reaching Coimbatore Jn. at 9.20 hrs. The Coimbatore - Shoranur passenger (Except  Sunday/T.No.605) leaving CBE Jn. At 9.45 hrs will be the connecting train that reaches at PGT Jn. and Shoranur at 11.00hrs and 12.35 hrs respectively.

In case the Yercaud Express or Bangalore – Nagarcoil trains reache Erode very late, passengers towards can travel by the Memu leaving Erode at 7.45 hrs. Again the disadvantage will be the loss of a half-day! Travelling from/to Erode will certainly be an alternative while reserved accommodation is not available for direct travel from/to Palakkad Jn. Or Coimbatore Jn; especially when traveling under emergency situations or during vacations when reservations were booked out much earlier.

The MEMU service starts at Erode Jn. at 7.45 a.m., reaches Tirupur at 8.40 a.m., Coimbatore Jn. at 10.25 a.m. and reaches Palakkad Town at 12.30 p.m. In the return trip, the train leaves at Palakkad Town at 2.30 p.m., reaches Coimbatore at 4.10 p.m. and Erode at 7 p.m.

Upon B.G conversion of Palakkad – Pollachi and Pollachi – Podanur sections and the simultaneous electrification, there is ample scope even to run circular MEMU trains, both clockwise and counter- clockwise directions ( viz. Coimbatore – Podanur – Kinnattukkadavu - Pollachi Jn. - Anamalai Road – Muthalamada – Kollengode – Vadakanyakapuram – Pudunagaram – Palakkad Town – Palakkad Jn. – Kanjikode – Walayar – Ettimadai – Podanur – Coimbatore and vice versa). The present trains between Coimbatore and Mettupalayam can also be converted into MEMU services.