COIMBATORE: Pollachi MP K Eswarasamy has urged Southern Railway to extend two train services to improve connectivity between Coimbatore and several towns in the Cauvery delta and southern Tamil Nadu, citing long-pending demands from passengers.In a letter to Southern Railway authorities, the MP sought the extension of Train Nos. 12083/12084 Coimbatore–Mayiladuthurai-Coimbatore Jan Shatabdi Express to Chidambaram. He said extending the Jan Shatabdi would benefit passengers travelling to Chidambaram for education, medical treatment, business, pilgrimage and tourism. The town is home to the Annamalai University and the historic Nataraja Temple, while Pichavaram is a major tourist attraction in the area. He said if operational constraints prevented the extension, the train could originate from Podanur Junction at 6am instead of Coimbatore Junction.He also sought the extension of and Nos. 16721/16722 Madurai–Coimbatore-Madurai Intercity Express to Bodinayakanur, citing the absence of direct rail connectivity between Coimbatore and the Theni region. He said passengers from Coimbatore, Pollachi, Kinathukadavu, Udumalpet and Palani would benefit, along with those travelling from Theni, Andipatti and Usilampatti. He pointed out that a direct train service between Coimbatore and Bodinayakanur existed during the metre-gauge era but had not been restored.The Tamil Nadu Rail Users Federation (TRUF) has taken up a separate set of demands raised by the Podanur Train Users Association, seeking additional stoppages for three express trains at Podanur Junction.The association has sought stoppage for Nos. 22609/22610 Mangaluru-Coimbatore- Mangaluru Intercity Express, Nos. 16377/16378 Ernakulam-Bengaluru–Ernakulam Intercity Express and Nos. 16188/16187Ernakulam–Karaikal Express at Podanur, which was discontinued after the Covid-19 pandemic.TRUF president N Subramanian sought the restoration of the Podanur–Tambaram Express via Pollachi, Palani, Dindigul, Trichy, Kumbakonam and Chidambaram, besides the revival of train services that operated from Coimbatore during the metre-gauge era.