MARGAO
Several pilgrims and other passengers have on Monday headed to Vailankani on a pilgrimage to Our Lady of Vailankani in Tamil Nadu as the South Western Railway has resumed running of the Vasco-Nagappattinam weekly Express from Monday.
Running of the weekly direct train from Vasco to Nagappattinam had come to a halt in 2020 after the railways had suspended train operations after the Covid pandemic raised its ugly head two years ago.
Though the SWR had last week initially announced the operation of the Vasco-Velankanni weekly Express, beginning from Monday, it was later decided by the Southern Railway and the South Western Railway to run the train up to Nagappattinam station.
Several pilgrims boarded the train at Margao when it chugged at the railway station on Monday morning.
Former Aquem-Baixo Sarpanch Inacio Dias, who is a frequent visitor to Vailankani, told the media that the resumption of the Vasco-Nagappattinam weekly express will go a long way in ameliorating the hardships faced by the pilgrims from Goa. Expressing his happiness over the resumption of the weekly train, he, however, appealed to the railway authorities to ensure that the train runs to its last stop at Vailankani instead of Nagappattinam.
He also said the new government in Goa, after assuming office, should pursue with the railway authorities to ensure that the Vasco-Nagappattinam weekly express makes an overnight halt at Nagappattinam for the benefit of the pilgrims.
“As per the timetable, the train is expected to return after a couple of hours. If the train makes an overnight halt, it will go a long way in helping the pilgrims to spend more time at Vailankani”, he said.
Train no. 17315 Vasco Da Gama-Nagappattinam Weekly Express will leave from Vasco Da Gama at 09.00 hrs every Monday from March 7, 2022, until further advice. The train will reach Nagappattinam at 11.40 hrs on the next day.
Train no. 17316 Nagappattinam-Vasco Da Gama Weekly Express will leave from Nagappattinam at 00.20 hrs every Wednesday from March 9, 2022, until further advice. The train will reach Vasco Da Gama at 03.25 hrs on the next day.
The train will halt at Madgaon Jn, Sanvordem, Kulem, Castle Rock, Londa Jn, Dharwad, Hubbalii Jn, Haveri, Ranibennur, Davangere, Birur Jn, Arsikere Jn, Tiptur, Tumakaru, Chikka Banavara Jn Banaswadi, Krishnarajapuram, Bangarapet, Salem Jn, Erode Jn, Karur Jn, Tiruchchirapalli Jn, Thanjavur Jn and Thiruvarur Jn stations.
The train comprises of total 18 Coaches, including two Tier AC - one Coach, three Tier AC - four Coaches, Sleeper - seven Coaches, Second Seating - four Coaches, SLR “ two.
