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 Town 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 118 km (73 mi). The Ernakulam Town/Ernakulam Junction - 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 Town 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	118 km (73 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 Changanasseri 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 Ernakulam Town, Kottayam, Chengannur, Tiruvalla, Changanacherry, Tripunithura, and Mavelikara. The details of the railway stations (excluding Ernakulam D Cabin - ERSD) with annual earnings in 2018-2019 is shown below.

Sl. No	Station Name	Code	Category	Entrances	No of actual passengers (in 2018-2019)	Earnings during 2018-2019 (in INR)
1.	Tripunithura	TRTR	NSG5	One	8,44,169	Rs.8,56,06,618
2.	Chottanikkara Road	KFE	HG3	One	31,365	Rs.2,69,200
3.	Mulanturutti	MNTT	NSG6	One	1,87,403	Rs.33,87,837
4.	Kanjiramittam	KPTM	HG2	One	30,444	Rs.3,64,749
5.	Piravam Road	PVRD	NSG5	One	8,12,270	Rs.2,83,64,896
6.	Vaikom Road	VARD	NSG6	One	2,06,980	Rs.50,41,959
7.	Kaduturutti Halt	KDTY	HG3	One	13,852	Rs.1,35,110
8.	Kuruppanthara	KRPP	NSG6	One	1,90,217	Rs.15,83,420
9.	Ettumanur	ETM	NSG6	One	2,83,198	Rs.72,21,181
10.	Kumaranallur	KFQ	HG3	One	10,400	Rs.1,44,750
11.	Kottayam	KTYM	NSG3	One	44,96,320	Rs.57,22,27,243
12.	Chingavanam	CGV	NSG6	One	57,888	Rs.7,66,310
13.	Changanacherry	CGY	NSG4	One	14,57,208	Rs.11,07,77,056
14.	Tiruvalla	TRVL	NSG4	One	15,42,505	Rs.19,70,93,362
15.	Chengannur	CNGR	NSG3	One	25,58,898	Rs.46,51,06,837
16.	Cheriyanad	CYN	NSG6	One	91,505	Rs.11,82,586
17.	Mavelikara	MVLK	NSG5	One	7,97,747	Rs.5,78,25,338

**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 the "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.

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
Ettumanur	Ettumanoor Mahadeva temple, St. Mary's Forane Church-Athirampuzha (Pilgrim centre of St.Sebastian)
Kottayam	Thirunakkara Sree Mahadevar Temple, Sabarimala Temple (110 km), Panachikkadu Temple (12 km), Manarcad Marth Mariam Cathedral (10 km) St. George Orthodox Church, Puthupally (10 km), Thazhathangady Juma Mosque
Changancherry	Vazhappally Maha Siva Temple, 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 (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

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 26 November 1904, with the completion of the Kollam–Sengottai branch line, which was a part of Kollam - Chennai meter gauge route. On 4 November 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 150 m (490 ft) and 175 m (574 ft) 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 Ernakulam Town-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 Chingavanam[5] and from Ernakulam to Ettumanur. Works such as construction of bridges, leveling of land etc are progressing between Chingavanam and Ettumanur. As of 3 November 2019, land acquisition between Chingavanam and Ettumanur has been completed, and rail track doubling through Kottayam is expected to be completed within the next two years.[6] Once the Ernakulam - Kayamkulam doubling work is completed, 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 are also going on, with introduction of new facilities to passengers. Recently Piravam Road, Vaikom Road, Kuruppanthara, Ettumanur, Chingavanam, Changanacherry, Tiruvalla, Chengannur, Chingavanam were renovated as part of track doubling with either construction of new station buildings or renovation of platforms or new foot overbridges etc. Construction activities for relocating Ettumanur station to the middle of Neendoor and Athirampuzha roads are almost done.[7] Due to this relocation, 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. The existing tunnels will, in future, be used only for shunting as passenger traffic will be redirected 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. Very Soon the longest running train in the India (Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari Vivek Express) will become the longest running daily Superfast train of India.

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. 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.[10]
• 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.[11] 2) A line connecting Chengannur to Pamba (nearest point of Sabarimala) via Ranni is waiting for approval.[12] 3) A link to Erumeli-Punalur line, a proposed extension of Sabari line[13] via Adoor, Pandalam.[14]
• Earlier there was a proposal for a broad gauge line between Kottayam and Madurai via Idukki, Theni.[15][16] 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 government of Kerala is now focusing on alignment for the high speed rail corridor from Kochveli to Kasargod, which expects minimal land acquisition, faster means of travel from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod.[17] under KRDCL.

See also

• Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line
• Kollam–Sengottai branch line
• Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section
• Thiruvananthapuram railway division

References

1. "Railway Budget speech 1957-58 (final)" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Government of India, Ministry of Railways. 14 May 1957.
2. "Railway Budget speech 1958-59" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Government of India, Ministry of Railways. 17 February 1958.
3. "Minister of Railways directs to re-categorize railway stations taking into account earnings, passenger footfall, strategic importance". pib.nic.in.
4. "Railways revise station categories to improve services". The Economic Times. PTI. 28 December 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
5. "Double track on Chingavanam–Changanassery route and Kuruppanthara-Ettumanoor soon to be completed..." The Mathrubhumi.
6. Reporter, Staff (3 November 2019). "Track doubling: land acquisition complete". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 8 November 2019.
7. "Ettumanur railway station to be relocated". The Times Of India.
8. "Journeys through Kottayam rail tunnels built by E Sreedharan to end soon..." The Mathrubhumi.
9. "Kerala to pitch for seven rail projects". aanavandi.com.
10. "Thiruvananthapuram-Chengannur Suburban Rail Corridor: DPR awaits Government nod". railnews.in.
11. "Upgrade Thiruvalla railway station". The Hindu. 7 June 2010. Retrieved 12 July 2019.
12. "The Akhila Bharatha Ayyappa Seva Sanghom (ABASS) call to set up Sabari rail corporation". The Hindu.
13. "Confusion over rail lines announced for survey". The Hindu.
14. "New Chengannur-Thiruvananthapuram rail line soon". The Hindu.
15. "Early implementation of Madurai-Kottayam line sought". The Hindu.
16. "Feasibility report on Madurai-Kottayam BG line submitted". The Hindu Business Line.
17. "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