Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line

The Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line is a railway line which runs through the districts of Ernakulam, Kottayam , Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha in Kerala state of India. This railway line starts as a branch line from Ernakulam Junction railway station towards Kottayam and joins with the Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line route via Alappuzha at Kayamkulam Junction. This line comes under the Thiruvananthapuram railway division of Southern Railway Zone of Indian Railways. The line has a total distance of 114 km. The Ernakulam - Kottayam section opened in 1956-57^[1] and Kottayam - Kollam section in 1957^[2].

Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line
Overview
Native name	എറണാകുളം-കോട്ടയം-കായംകുളം റെയിൽ പാത
Type	Regional rail Light rail
Status	Operational
Locale	Kerala
Termini	Ernakulam Junction Kayamkulam Junction
Stations	18
Website	www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in
Operation
Opened	1956 (1956)
Owner	Indian Railways
Operator(s)	Southern Railway zone
Technical
Line length	114 km (71 mi)
Number of tracks	1
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Loading gauge	4,725 mm × 3,660 mm (15 ft 6.0 in × 12 ft 0.1 in) (BG)
Electrification	Fully Electrified. 25 kV 50 Hz AC
Operating speed	100 km/h (62 mph)
Route map Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam–Kollam line km to Aluva 3 Ernakulam D Cabin 0 Ernakulam Junction 10 Tripunithura to Alappuzha 14 Chottanikkara Road 17 Mulanturutti 22 Kanjiramittam 29 Piravam Road 35 Vaikom Road 38 Kaduturutti Halt 42 Kuruppanthara 49 Ettumanur 56 Kumaranallur 60 Kottayam 67 Chingavanam 78 Changanacherry 86 Tiruvalla 95 Chengannur 101 Cheriyanad 107 Mavelikara to Alappuzha 115 Kayamkulam Junction 121 Ochira 129 Karunagappalli 136 Sasthamkotta 139 Munroturuttu 147 Perinad to Punalur Kallumthazham Overpass Chemmanmukku Overpass 156 Kollam Junction to Thiruvananthapuram Central

Stations

There are 18 railway stations along the stretch. The major stations are Kottayam, Chengannur, Tiruvalla, Changanacherry, Tripunithura, Piravam Road and Mavelikara. The details of the railway stations (excluding Ernakulam D Cabin - ERSD) with annual earnings in 2016-2017 is shown below.

**Note:-

1. Stations written in bold letters - Stations generating Rs. 2,00,00,000(Rs. 2 Crore) or more in a financial year.
2. 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 Chengannur, Kottayam and Tiruvalla act as the reception centers for people from various parts of country to the famous Hindu pilgrim center Sabarimala. The Chengannur station has been declared as 'Gateway of Sabarimala' by Indian Railways in 2009. During Sabarimala pilgrim (Mandala) season, state transport buses(KSRTC) operate from these stations (mainly from Chengannur and then Kottayam). Some of the major pilgrim centers and the nearest railway stations are shown below.

Tourism/Others

Kottayam is the nearest railway station which caters to famous tourist destinations like Kumarakom. The Changanacherry Railway Station acts as a gateway to Kuttanad and to tourist spots of Idukki. Hill Palace, Infopark-Kochi, various industries like KEL, FACT etc. are situated in proximity to Tripunithura railway station.

History

Train service began in Travancore, erstwhile Kerala state on November 26, 1904, with the completion of the Kollam–Sengottai branch line, which was a part of Kollam - Chennai meter gauge route. On November 4, 1931, the Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station was launched. In 1956 during the formation of Kerala, the total length of railway line in the State was 745 km. Ernakulam and Kollam were not connected by rail then. The Ernakulam - Kottayam and Kottayam - Kollam railway lines were completed in 1956 and 1958 respectively. In December 1971, a Rs.13.59 crore project was established to convert the Thiruvananthapuram - Ernakulam line (220 km) from meter gauge to broad gauge was sanctioned. The work was completed in 1976.

There are two tunnels, measuring 84 and 65 metres each, situated between the Chingavanam and Kottayam stations, quite near to Kottayam. These railway tunnels were built by ‘Metro man’ E Sreedharan during the early years of his career in 1955-56 at Kottayam. The two tunnels are part of the 1952 Kochi-Kollam railway line which was inaugurated by the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Track doubling and other developments

The Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line is fully electrified. The line doubling works through the line are in progress. Currently doubling works are completed from Kayamkulam Junction to Changanacherry railway station^[5] and from Ernakulam to Kuruppanthara. The works are progressing between Changanacherry railway station and Kuruppanthara like construction of bridges, land leveling etc. Still land acquisition is pending between Chingavanam and Ettumanur. The rail track doubling through Kottayam is expected to be completed by March 2020.^[6] Once the Ernakulam- Kayamkulam doubling work will be completed, the late running of trains could be avoided in this stretch.

Also renovation of the railway stations are also going on with introduction of new facilities to passengers. Recently Piravam Road, Vaikom Road, Kuruppanthara, Chingavanam, Changanacherry, Tiruvalla, Chengannur were renovated as part of track doubling with either construction of new station buildings or renovation of platforms or new foot over bridges etc. Construction activities for relocating Ettumanur station to the middle of Neendoor and Athirampuzha roads has been started.^[7] Once it is relocated, the station will be easily accessible for the commuters coming from MG University, Medical College Kottayam and Mannanam. The Kottayam station, which is the main station along the route will also be renovated during progress of rail doubling works.

The tunnels between Chingavanam and Kottayam, (near Kottayam station) will be abandoned after track doubling.^[8] The initial plan to build another tunnel was dropped after the topography was found unsuitable. Earth will be removed for one kilometer and railway over bridges will come up above the proposed new double track. These tunnels will, in future, be used only for shunting as passenger traffic will be re diverted to the new tracks.

Rail Traffic

The Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line has more than 65 express trains and about 18 passenger trains running along the route.Major trains like, the longest running train in the India (Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari Vivek Express), longest running Superfast train (Thiruvananthapuram - Silchar Superfast Express), longest running daily Superfast train (Kerala Express), Kannur - Thiruvananthapuram Jan Shatabdi Express etc. runs via Kottayam. More trains are expected to be introduced along the route with the completion of track doubling.

Future Plans

Various plans are in consideration to connect the line to various regions of middle Kerala.

• Ettumanoor – Pala Sabari Link line^[9] : 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.^[10] 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.^[11]
• New lines from Tiruvalla/Chengannur: 1) A line from Tiruvalla to Thakazhi, a village in Alappuzha district (thus connecting the Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line and Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line parallel rail lines) has been proposed.^[12] 2) A line connecting Tiruvalla^[12]/Chengannur to Pamba (nearest point of Sabarimala) via Ranni is waiting for approval.^[13] 3) A link to Erumeli-Punalur line, a proposed extension of Sabari line^[14] via Adoor, Pandalam.^[15]
• Earlier there was a proposal for a broad gauge line between Kottayam and Madurai via Idukki, Theni.^[16][17] 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.

See also

♦ Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line

♦ Alappuzha railway station

♦ Kayamkulam Junction Railway Station

♦ Kollam Railway Station

♦ Kollam–Sengottai branch line

♦ Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station

♦ Ernakulam Junction Railway Station

♦ Ernakulam Town Railway Station

♦ Cochin Harbour Terminus Railway station

♦ Ernakulam Terminus railway station

♦ Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section

♦ Shoranur Junction Railway Station

♦ Thiruvananthapuram railway division

♦ Palakkad railway division

♦ Southern Railway Zone

♦ Indian Railways

References

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