Tamil Nadu: Train services from Rameswaram were suspended on Tuesday following a technical fault in the vertical lift span of the newly inaugurated Pamban Rail Bridge, leaving scores of passengers stranded. The disruption caused significant delays to four trains, including two express services.
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The affected trains included:
Train No. 16104 Rameswaram–Tambaram Express
Train No. 16527 Rameswaram–Chennai Egmore Express
Train No. 56716 Rameswaram–Madurai Passenger
Train No. 56713 Madurai–Rameswaram Passenger
These trains were held on both sides of the bridge from the evening after the vertical lift span got stuck midway and could not be lowered to track level.
The Tambaram-bound express, which departed Rameswaram at 4:00 p.m., was stopped just before the bridge. The Chennai Egmore Express, scheduled to leave at 5:50 p.m., could only depart at 8:20 p.m. due to the fault. Additionally, the two passenger trains were partially cancelled between Rameswaram and Mandapam, with significant delays in resuming services.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu: Due to a technical glitch at the Pamban New Railway Bridge, trains from Rameswaram have been stopped at Akka Math. Following this, the Pamban Vertical Suspension Bridge was lowered, and a test run was conducted by running a train engine on it. Work is… pic.twitter.com/ffFycP5u5I
— ANI (@ANI) August 12, 2025
After extensive efforts, the 654-tonne lift span was successfully lowered onto the track. A trial run with a light engine was conducted around 7:00 p.m., and after confirming its safety, train operations resumed. As a result, the Tambaram Express was delayed by nearly four hours.
This incident marks the second issue with the vertical lift span since the bridge was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 6. The central span had also gotten stuck shortly after the inauguration.
The new Pamban Rail Bridge, which connects Rameswaram to mainland Tamil Nadu, replaces the original 2-km-long sea bridge built in 1914. The old bridge was damaged by a cyclone in 1964 and remained in use until December 2022, when it was decommissioned due to structural cracks.
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The newly built Pamban Bridge is India’s first vertical lift railway sea bridge and has been hailed as one of the most significant infrastructural achievements in Indian Railways history. Constructed at a cost of ₹550 crore, the bridge stands as a symbol of engineering excellence and holds deep cultural significance for the region.