New Rakes, New Life: Kerala Gets Independent Rajyarani Express Available For Service From November

The independent ‘Rajyarani Express’ on the Thiruvananthapuram-Nilambur route is going to be a dream come true for commuters who have been waiting for this service for long. The service is expected to start from mid-November.

The independent service could only be started because two modern LHB (Linke Holfmann Busch) rakes have been allocated for the New Delhi-bound Kerala Express. Upon replacement, the ordinary rakes currently used will be available for deployment.

“Railway Board chairman Ashwani Lohani assured me on Tuesday that the independent ‘Rajyarani’ service will be started with the rake. Some more paper works are pending. The railways plan to start the service by November 15” P V Abdul Wahab, MP told Deccan Chronicle.

The Rajyarani Link Express (T No 16349/16350) which is currently under operation has eight coaches and is linked along with the Madurai-bound Amrita Express till Shoranur. After the train reaches Shoranur, the eight coaches will be attached with the Shornur Nilambur passenger express while the Amrita Express will further proceed to Madurai.

The Southern Railway, witnessing the considerable demand, had proposed to the railway board to make the Rajyarani Express an independent train and the same proposal was forwarded for the consideration of the railway timetable committee which gave it approval.