Officials of Southern Railway successfully conducted a speed trial run on the newly laid Palakkad-Pollachi broad gauge (BG) line today. There will be more such trial runs in the next few days.

The special train, consisting of just an engine and a brake van coach started from Palakkad Town station at 10.15 AM and arrived at Pollachi in less than two hours, maintaining an average speed of about 40 kmph. Within 20 minutes of its arrival at Pollachi, the train resumed its return journey, at 12.25 PM, and reached Palakkad, at a speed of 60 kmph, at 1.45 PM.

The tracks will also be tested for their strength and durability. According to the railway officials, the trail run was a technical requirement to assess the track parameters before the inspection of Commissioner of Railway Safety.