India has announced the successful trial run on the renovated Madhu Road- Thiruketheeswaram railway line which has been conducted today.

"The trial run evoked considerable enthusiasm among the local populace and many people were seen spontaneously cheering the train as it passed by", a press release issued by the Indian High Commission has said.

It comes close on the heels of the inauguration of Pallai-Jaffna reconstructed railway track and signal system by President Mahinda Rajapaksa early this month. Both the projects were undertaken by IRCON International (IRCON), a Public Sector Undertaking under the Ministry of Railways of India.

The 26 km-long Madhu Road-Thiruketheeswaram reconstructed track is part of the 252 km prestigious Northern Railway Line Project, being implemented by IRCON under a concessional credit line amounting to about USD 800 million provided by the Government of India .

The completion of the railway line up to Talaimnannar would pave way for the resumption of ferry service between Talaimannar and Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu.