Back in the days, Villupuram Junction used to be a big deal for switching from Electric to Diesel and vice versa. Lots of trains and locos running all around. But now, after electrification, spotting a diesel engine is like finding a needle in a haystack. Only a couple of ALCos left for shunting. Rare to see a powerful Electromotive Diesel pulling a passenger train nowadays. Luckily, saw one from Ponmalai today. Must be that special train from Ramnad to Tambaram going through a change here. The national flag in the background adds to the beauty of this sunny morning.

Heard that passenger (ordinary), MEMU, and DEMU trains will now run with their original numbers.
Meaning passenger trains will start from 5 and MEMU/DEMU will be from 6/7.
At non-suburban stations, all NSG category stations people will be able to travel with a IInd Class Ordinary Ticket like before.
Even though on Feb 22 railways started Ordinary Ticket on trains stopping at all stations, still at many stations people were given Express tickets, causing those who didn't know that Ordinary Ticket is back to lose money for no reason.
Now the thing to see is if that feeling, that atmosphere, that experience, that nostalgia that used to come in Indian Railways before COVID can come back again.
Because since COVID, railway has been neglecting a lot of people.
Now the charm that used to be there in railways is no longer the same as it was in childhood.

Hope for the best🤞