Top 15 Railway Stations in Salem Division (2023-2024)

Salem Division, a significant hub in the Southern Railway zone, serves as a critical junction for commuters traveling across Tamil Nadu. The division is home to several key stations that play a vital role in connecting people to major cities, temples, and other regions. Based on the latest statistics for 2023-2024, here is a comprehensive look at the top 15 railway stations in Salem Division, ranked by the number of originating passengers and earnings from these passengers.

1. Coimbatore Junction (CBE)

Passengers Originating: 102.75 Lakh (Reserved: 47.15 Lakh, Unreserved: 55.60 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹345.32 Crore (Reserved: ₹283.97 Crore, Unreserved: ₹61.36 Crore)

Coimbatore Junction tops the list with a staggering 102.75 lakh passengers originating from the station. With a robust mix of reserved and unreserved ticket sales, Coimbatore continues to be a major transportation hub in the region, connecting travelers to various destinations, especially in the industrial and educational sectors.

2. Salem Junction (SA)

Passengers Originating: 44.93 Lakh (Reserved: 19.43 Lakh, Unreserved: 25.50 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹127.27 Crore (Reserved: ₹98.35 Crore, Unreserved: ₹28.93 Crore)

Salem Junction, strategically located on the main rail route connecting Chennai and Bengaluru, ranks second with 44.93 lakh passengers. The station serves as a vital link for those traveling to and from the city of Salem, offering diverse travel options for commuters.

3. Erode Junction (ED)

Passengers Originating: 43.03 Lakh (Reserved: 16.86 Lakh, Unreserved: 26.17 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹111.29 Crore (Reserved: ₹79.27 Crore, Unreserved: ₹32.03 Crore)

Erode Junction ranks third with over 43 lakh passengers. Known for its connectivity to both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, Erode is an essential station for travelers heading towards the western parts of Tamil Nadu.

4. Tiruppur (TUP)

Passengers Originating: 39.29 Lakh (Reserved: 13.37 Lakh, Unreserved: 25.92 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹96.25 Crore (Reserved: ₹67.38 Crore, Unreserved: ₹28.86 Crore)

Tiruppur, a prominent textile hub, serves as a key station with 39.29 lakh passengers originating from it. Its convenient location makes it an ideal station for both reserved and unreserved travel, catering to the city's significant workforce.

5. Karur Junction (KRR)

Passengers Originating: 9.70 Lakh (Reserved: 3.49 Lakh, Unreserved: 6.21 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹18.14 Crore (Reserved: ₹14.55 Crore, Unreserved: ₹3.59 Crore)

Karur, a city known for its textile industry, ranks fifth with 9.7 lakh passengers. The station handles a considerable number of passengers who travel both for business and personal reasons, benefiting from its well-established network.

6. Mettupalaiyam (MTP)

Passengers Originating: 16.14 Lakh (Reserved: 2.41 Lakh, Unreserved: 13.73 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹17.12 Crore (Reserved: ₹13.93 Crore, Unreserved: ₹3.19 Crore)

Mettupalaiyam is a popular destination for tourists heading to Ooty, and it serves as a vital station for unreserved travel, with 13.73 lakh passengers in 2023-2024. The station is an essential link for those traveling through the Nilgiri Hills region.

7. Podanur Junction (PTJ)

Passengers Originating: 5.12 Lakh (Reserved: 1.28 Lakh, Unreserved: 3.84 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹10.42 Crore (Reserved: ₹8.36 Crore, Unreserved: ₹2.06 Crore)

Located near Coimbatore, Podanur Junction serves a considerable number of passengers traveling to various destinations. With strong unreserved travel traffic, it remains a crucial stop for regional connections.

8. Udagamandalam (UAM)

Passengers Originating: 3.47 Lakh (Reserved: 2.35 Lakh, Unreserved: 1.12 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹9.37 Crore (Reserved: ₹7.26 Crore, Unreserved: ₹2.11 Crore)

Udagamandalam, also known as Ooty, is a popular hill station. Despite its relatively smaller size, it handles a considerable number of passengers, especially during the tourist season. The station contributes significantly to the earnings through reserved tickets.

9. Coonoor (ONR)

Passengers Originating: 2.35 Lakh (Reserved: 1.63 Lakh, Unreserved: 0.72 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹5.46 Crore (Reserved: ₹4.12 Crore, Unreserved: ₹1.33 Crore)

Coonoor, another hill station near Ooty, also sees a significant number of passengers, particularly during peak tourist seasons. Its earnings reflect the popularity of this scenic destination.

10. Morappur (MAP)

Passengers Originating: 5.45 Lakh (Reserved: 1.30 Lakh, Unreserved: 4.15 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹6.46 Crore (Reserved: ₹3.14 Crore, Unreserved: ₹3.32 Crore)

Morappur serves a key connection for passengers traveling between Salem and other regions, with a balanced number of reserved and unreserved ticket holders.

11. Tirupattur (TPT)

Passengers Originating: 3.07 Lakh (Reserved: 53,204, Unreserved: 2.53 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹5.00 Crore (Reserved: ₹3.17 Crore, Unreserved: ₹1.83 Crore)

Tirupattur, a growing town, sees a steady flow of passengers, contributing significantly to the division's overall earnings.

12. Namakkal (NMKL)

Passengers Originating: 1.13 Lakh (Reserved: 56,228, Unreserved: 56,931)

Earnings: ₹3.24 Crore (Reserved: ₹2.71 Crore, Unreserved: ₹53.18 Lakh)

Namakkal serves a small but growing number of passengers, offering a mix of reserved and unreserved ticket options, making it a convenient transit point for commuters.

13. Bommidi (BQI)

Passengers Originating: 3.95 Lakh (Reserved: 43,368, Unreserved: 3.51 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹3.17 Crore (Reserved: ₹1.59 Crore, Unreserved: ₹1.57 Crore)

Bommidi is an emerging station, handling a mix of reserved and unreserved passengers. Its steady passenger traffic highlights its growing importance in the region.

14. Kulitalai (KLT)

Passengers Originating: 5.47 Lakh (Reserved: 40,092, Unreserved: 5.06 Lakh)

Earnings: ₹2.12 Crore (Reserved: ₹1.35 Crore, Unreserved: ₹77.73 Lakh)

Kulitalai handles a considerable number of unreserved passengers, contributing notably to the local economy and providing key travel connections for the surrounding areas.

15. Sankaridurg (SGE)

Passengers Originating: 93,177 (Reserved: 38,722, Unreserved: 54,455)

Earnings: ₹1.94 Crore (Reserved: ₹1.54 Crore, Unreserved: ₹40.49 Lakh)

Sankaridurg, though ranking last on the list, is still an important station for passengers traveling to and from the region. It offers a mix of reserved and unreserved services for daily commuters and travelers.

Conclusion

These 15 stations represent the backbone of passenger transportation in the Salem Division. With Coimbatore leading the way in terms of passenger traffic and earnings, each station contributes to the overall connectivity of the division. Understanding the traffic and earnings from these stations can help improve services, increase convenience, and enhance travel experiences for millions of passengers across the region.