Karaikal-Peralam Rail Section Sees Strong Coal Freight Since Opening
RAILWAYS & METRO RAIL

Karaikal-Peralam Rail Section Sees Strong Coal Freight Since Opening

The Karaikal-Peralam broadgauge section has witnessed brisk movement of bulk coal since the 23.5-kilometre stretch was opened to traffic last month.

Falling under the jurisdiction of the Tiruchi Railway Division, rail operations resumed after over 40 years, following statutory clearance granted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, in late May.

Since freight services began on June 11, over 40 rakes carrying coal have operated on this section. Officials report that approximately five rakes run daily, each comprising 58 wagons.

Coal is transported from Karaikal private port to a private power plant at Puduchathram near Chidambaram in Cuddalore district, and also to Mettur in Salem district. Approximately 171,000 tonnes of coal have been moved through the electrified Karaikal-Peralam section since its inauguration.

BOBRN-type wagons are used to carry coal in bulk via Thirunallar and Peralam to these destinations. Before the opening of this section, coal was routed through a longer path via Nagore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai to Puduchathram. The new route has significantly reduced transit time.

Coal remains the leading commodity transported in the Tiruchi Railway Division, followed by food grains and cement. It accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the division’s freight revenue, officials stated.

Passenger Services
While freight services are active on the Karaikal-Peralam line via Thirunallar, passenger trains have yet to commence. Local travellers have expressed strong demand for early introduction of passenger services.

Railway sources confirmed that the Tiruchi Railway Division has already requested the Southern Railway headquarters to initiate passenger train operations on this section.

The Karaikal-Peralam broadgauge section has witnessed brisk movement of bulk coal since the 23.5-kilometre stretch was opened to traffic last month.Falling under the jurisdiction of the Tiruchi Railway Division, rail operations resumed after over 40 years, following statutory clearance granted by the Commissioner of Railway Safety, Southern Circle, Bengaluru, in late May.Since freight services began on June 11, over 40 rakes carrying coal have operated on this section. Officials report that approximately five rakes run daily, each comprising 58 wagons.Coal is transported from Karaikal private port to a private power plant at Puduchathram near Chidambaram in Cuddalore district, and also to Mettur in Salem district. Approximately 171,000 tonnes of coal have been moved through the electrified Karaikal-Peralam section since its inauguration.BOBRN-type wagons are used to carry coal in bulk via Thirunallar and Peralam to these destinations. Before the opening of this section, coal was routed through a longer path via Nagore, Nagapattinam, Tiruvarur and Mayiladuthurai to Puduchathram. The new route has significantly reduced transit time.Coal remains the leading commodity transported in the Tiruchi Railway Division, followed by food grains and cement. It accounts for nearly 80 per cent of the division’s freight revenue, officials stated.Passenger ServicesWhile freight services are active on the Karaikal-Peralam line via Thirunallar, passenger trains have yet to commence. Local travellers have expressed strong demand for early introduction of passenger services.Railway sources confirmed that the Tiruchi Railway Division has already requested the Southern Railway headquarters to initiate passenger train operations on this section.

Related Stories

Gold Stories

Next Story
Resources

Schindler named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026

Schindler has been named among Forbes’ World’s Best Employers 2026, a global ranking recognising companies for their workplace environments.Compiled by Forbes in partnership with Statista, the ranking is based on independent employee feedback, including whether employees would recommend their organisation to friends and family.The company said the recognition reflected its focus on creating a workplace where employees can develop their expertise and build careers. ..

Next Story
Infrastructure Urban

India needs an export-execution mindset: Vishesh Jain

Interview with Vishesh Jain, Founder & CEO, EximpleWhat gaps in India’s global trade ecosystem led you to build Eximple, and what problem did you see businesses struggling with most?Eximple came out of a problem that all three founders had seen from different choke points in the trade ecosystem. India has millions of MSMEs and manufacturers, and many of them can make products that are genuinely competitive on quality. Yet only a small fraction is able to build meaningful international businesses. In our experience, the gap is usually not manufacturing capability; it is the ability to exe..

Next Story
Building Material

Nuvoco reports 13.5% revenue growth in Q2 FY27

Nuvoco Vistas Corp. Ltd. reported consolidated revenue of Rs 27.9 billion for Q2 FY27, up 13.5% year on year. Cement sales volume rose 9% to 4.7 million tonnes (MMT), while EBITDA increased 11% to Rs 4.11 billion.The company said it began its cement operations in 2014 with a 2.3 MMT per annum (MMTPA) operation at Nimbol. It now aims to reach 35 MMTPA of cement capacity by FY28, nearly 15 times its initial capacity. Its portfolio spans cement, ready-mix concrete and modern building materials.On sustainability and cost efficiency, Nuvoco partnered with CleanMax for a 46.4 MW wind-solar hybrid re..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

SPECIAL OFFER
QR Code