Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line
Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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BG) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Electrification | Fully Electrified. 25 kV 50 Hz AC | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Operating speed | 100 km/h (62 mph) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line is a railway line which runs through the districts of
Stations
There are 18 railway stations along the stretch. The major stations are
Sl. No | Station Name | Malayalam Name | Code | District | Category | Entran- ces |
Platfo- rms |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1. | Tripunithura | തൃപ്പൂണിത്തുറ | TRTR | Ernakulam | NSG5 | 1 | 2 |
2. | Chottanikkara Road (Kurikad) |
ചോറ്റാനിക്കര റോഡ് |
KFE | Ernakulam | HG3 | 1 | 2 |
3. | Mulanturutti | മുളന്തുരുത്തി | MNTT | Ernakulam | NSG6 | 1 | 2 |
4. | Kanjiramittam | കാഞ്ഞിരമിറ്റം | KPTM | Ernakulam | HG2 | 1 | 2 |
5. | Piravam Road | പിറവം റോഡ് |
PVRD | Kottayam | NSG5 | 1 | 3 |
6. | Vaikom Road (Appanchira) |
വൈക്കം റോഡ് |
VARD | Kottayam | NSG6 | 1 | 3 |
7. | Kaduturutti Halt | കടുത്തുരുത്തി | KDTY | Kottayam | HG3 | 1 | 2 |
8. | Kuruppanthara | കുറുപ്പന്തറ | KRPP | Kottayam | NSG6 | 1 | 2 |
9. | Ettumanur | ഏറ്റുമാനൂർ | ETM | Kottayam | NSG6 | 1 | 4 |
10. | Kumaranallur | കുമാരനല്ലൂർ | KFQ | Kottayam | HG3 | 1 | 1 |
11. | Kottayam | കോട്ടയം | KTYM | Kottayam | NSG3 | 1 | 6 |
12. | Chingavanam | ചിങ്ങവനം | CGV | Kottayam | NSG6 | 1 | 3 |
13. | Changanasseri
|
ചങ്ങനാശ്ശേരി | CGY | Kottayam | NSG4 | 1 | 4 |
14. | Tiruvalla | തിരുവല്ലാ | TRVL | Pathanam thitta |
NSG4 | 1 | 4 |
15. | Chengannur | ചെങ്ങന്നൂർ | CNGR | Alappuzha | NSG3 | 1 | 3 |
16. | Cheriyanad | ചെറിയനാട് | CYN | Alappuzha | NSG6 | 1 | 2 |
17. | Mavelikara | മാവേലിക്കര | MVLK | Alappuzha | NSG5 | 1 | 3 |
**Note:-
- Stations written in bold letters - Stations generating Rs. 5,00,00,000(Rs. 5 Crore) or more in a financial year [Based on data of 2022-2023].
- The criteria for categorization of stations have now been revised to include footfalls at the station. The stations have been clubbed into three groups -- Non-suburban (NS), Suburban (S) and Halt (H). These groups have further been put in grades ranging from NSG 1-6, SG 1-3 and HG 1-3, respectively[3][4]
Significance
This line has significant role in connecting people to various social, economic, political and religious centers of middle part of Kerala. The railway stations at
Station | Major Pilgrim centers |
---|---|
Chottanikkara Road | Chottanikkara Temple |
Mulanthurutti | Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Cathedral, Chottanikkara Temple |
Piravam Road | St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Piravom (Rajadhiraja pally), Pazhoor Perumthrikkovil Temple, Karavelloor Mahadeva Temple, Desadhipan Amarkkulam Sreekrishna Swamy Temple, Mulakulam Mar Yohanon Ihidiyo Orthodox Syrian Church |
Vaikom Road | Vaikom Mahadeva Temple
|
Kaduthuruthy | St. Mary's Knanaya Valiyapally, St. Mary's Syro Malabar Forane Church Kaduthuruthy |
Ettumanur | Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple, St. Mary's Forane Church-Athirampuzha (Pilgrim centre of St.Sebastian), Major Archiepiscopal Marth Mariam Archdeacon Church, Kuravilangad, St. Mary's Church Kudamaloor, St. Alphonsa Shrine Bharananganam |
Kottayam | St. George Orthodox Church, Puthupally (10 km), Thazhathangady Juma Mosque, Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam (Old Seminary), Devalokam Catholicate Palace
|
Changancherry | Sabarimala Temple (100 km), Thrikodithanam Mahavishnu Temple, St. Mary's Church-Parel, Perunna Subrahmanya Swami Temple, Kavil Bhagavathy Temple, Panachikkadu Temple, Neelamperoor Palli Bhagavathi Temple, Anikkattilammakshethram
|
Tiruvalla | Sabarimala Temple (92 km), Parumala Church(Pigrim centre of St. Gregorios) (16 km), Chakkulathukavu Temple, St. George Forane Church-Edathua, Sreevallabha Temple, St. Marys's Valiyapally- Niranam (Founded by St. Thomas in AD 54), St. George Orthodox Church-Paliakkara (3.5 km)
|
Chengannur | Sabarimala Temple (90 km), ThiruChengannur Old Syrian Church, Chengannur Mahadeva Temple, Pandalam, Aranmula Parthasarathy Temple, Parumala Church, Maramon
|
Mavelikara | Chettikulangara Sree Bhagavathi temple, Kandiyoor Sree Mahadeva Temple |
Tourism/Others
Connection to Kochi City Metro
The Tripunithura metro station, the terminal metro station of Kochi metro was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 6th March 2024. This terminal metro station is located in close proximity to the Tripunithura railway station. The launch of the terminal is a good news for Kochi city-bound rail passengers from Kayamkulam–Kottayam–Ernakulam line who face delays because of the frequent halting of trains near or at the Tripunithura railway station as it is located close enough for them to switch over to the metro.
History
Train service began in
There are two
Track doubling and other developments
The Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line is fully electrified and doubled. The doubling works through this line received the green light sanction back in 2001. After multiple delays, doubling works were systematically completed and commissioned in all and the last stretches from the Ettumanoor to Chingavanam section, which was completed in May 2022. The Railway Chief Zone Safety Commissioner Abhay Kumar Rai conducted the safety inspection of this stretch on 23 May 2022 and this was ultimately commissioned on 29 May 2022.[5] Thus, with the completion of doubling of the entire Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayankulam line, it is expected that there would be a significant reduction in the late running of trains on this stretch, as well as the introduction of new trains.
Renovation works of railway stations on this stretch as part of the doubling works have mostly been completed, with introduction of new facilities to passengers. Recently
The iconic tunnels between Chingavanam and Kottayam (near Kottayam station) have been used as shunting lines after track doubling.[7] Although the initial plan was to build another tunnel, this idea was dropped after the topography was found to be unsuitable. Subsequently, a new double track has been made after removing earth for one kilometre on the side of the existing tunnels and railway overbridges have been deployed above the tracks. The existing tunnels will, in future, be used only for shunting as passenger traffic will be redirected to the new tracks.
Major trains
The major trains running along this route:
- Thiruvananthapuram - Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express.
- Kochuveli - Lokmanya Tilak Garib Rath Express.
- Kochuveli - Yesvantpur Garib Rath Express.
- Thiruvananthapuram - Kannur Jan Shatabdi Express.
- Kochuveli - Bengaluru Humsafar Express.
Express trains like New Delhi - Thiruvananthapuram Kerala Superfast Express, Kanyakumari - Dibrugarh Vivek Superfast Express (longest running train in India) , Himsagar Express, Kanyakumari–Pune Express, Amritha Express, Palaruvi Express, Malabar Express, Parasuram Express, Rajya Rani Express, Venad Express , Ernakulam - Velankanni express , Kollam–Tirupati Express etc run along through this route.
Future plans
Various plans are in consideration to connect the line to various regions of middle Kerala.
- Ettumanoor – Pala Sabari Link line[8] : A 15 km Ettumanoor – Pala new BG line is estimated by Kerala Rail Development Corporation (KRDCL) which connects Ettumanoor to proposed Pala station as part of the proposed Angamaly-Erumeli Sabari railway line.[citation needed] This line is expected to be a cost-effective link that will function as an outer ring rail for Kochi.
- Suburban Line: A suburban transit system is proposed between Thiruvananthapuram and Chengannur to cater to huge commuter transportation needs and introducing more trains like DEMU / MEMU. This project is under consideration of Kerala Rail Development Corporation (KRDCL) and a DPR is prepared by Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation with an estimated cost Rs. 1,836 Crores.[9]
- New lines from Chengannur: 1) A line connecting
- New line from Tiruvalla : A line from Tiruvalla to Thakazhi, a village in Alappuzha district (thus connecting the Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line and Ernakulam-Alappuzha-Kayamkulam parallel rail lines) has been proposed.[13] Now this project is not in active consideration.
- Earlier there was a proposal for a broad gauge line between Kottayam and Madurai via Idukki and Theni.[14][15] This line was proposed to implement rail connectivity to places in Idukki, Cumbam, Theni etc. and to promote transportation of agricultural, raw materials and other freight traffic between Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Now this project is not in active consideration.
However the Government of Kerala is now focusing on the alignment for the
See also
- Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line
- Kollam–Sengottai branch line
- Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section
- Thiruvananthapuram railway division
References
- ^ "Railway Budget speech 1957-58 (final)" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Government of India, Ministry of Railways. 14 May 1957.
- ^ "Railway Budget speech 1958-59" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Government of India, Ministry of Railways. 17 February 1958.
- ^ "Minister of Railways directs to re-categorize railway stations taking into account earnings, passenger footfall, strategic importance". pib.nic.in.
- ^ "Railways revise station categories to improve services". The Economic Times. PTI. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
- ^ "Finally, double track on Kottayam rail route gets ready, first train today evening".
- ^ "Ettumanur railway station to be relocated". The Times Of India.
- ^ "Journeys through Kottayam rail tunnels built by E Sreedharan to end soon..." The Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- ^ "Kerala to pitch for seven rail projects". aanavandi.com. 21 February 2017.
- ^ "Thiruvananthapuram-Chengannur Suburban Rail Corridor: DPR awaits Government nod". railnews.in.
- ^ "Railways moots Chengannur-Pamba line as alternative to Sabari project".
- ^ "Confusion over rail lines announced for survey". The Hindu.
- ^ "New Chengannur-Thiruvananthapuram rail line soon". The Hindu.
- ^ "Upgrade Thiruvalla railway station". The Hindu. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
- ^ "Early implementation of Madurai-Kottayam line sought". The Hindu.
- ^ "Feasibility report on Madurai-Kottayam BG line submitted". The Hindu Business Line.
- ^ "Aerial survey for Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod semi high-speed rail corridor completed". The Indian Express.
External links
1.Ernakulam - Kayamkulam Passenger(via Kottayam)
https://indiarailinfo.com/train/timetable/ernakulam-kayamkulam-passenger-via-kottayam-56387/2729/52/57
2. Doubling work on speed track in 115 km long Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayamkulam
http://www.deccanchronicle.com/amp/nation/current-affairs/270717/doubling-work-on-speed-track-in-115-km-long-ernakulam-kottayam-kayamkulam-section.html
3. Kerala Rail Development Corporation (KRDCL) Projects
http://krdcl.co.in/?page_id=12