Students view Commonwealth Games Express

Thousands of students from various schools in Madurai today walked around the "Commonwealth Express" exhibition train that showcased the glory of the Commonwealth Games.

Acting divisional railway manager PV Vaithyalingam, who 'received' the train, told newsmen that the train would serve as an inspiration to sportsmen as most of them had become celebrities overnight through hard work.

He also dwelt on the Railways' long-term association with sports and said CWE was being run to commemorate it. The Madurai division had also set up a separate exhibition for creating awareness about safety norms among children, he said.

The DRM said work on doubling the 45 km Valadi-Ariyalur track had started and would cost Rs 60 crore. It would ease goods traffic in the section where many cement factories are located. However doubling of Villupuram-Madurai stretch, along with electrification,would be a big boon to passengers.

He said the Madurai-Tiruchi electrification is slated to be completed before March 2011.