Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal railway line

Ernakulam–Kayamkulam Coastal railway line
Overview
Native name എറണാകുളം-കായംകുളം തീരദേശ തീവണ്ടി പാത
Type Regional rail
Light rail
Status Operational
Locale Kerala
Termini Ernakulam Junction
Kayamkulam Junction
Stations 20
Services 1
Website www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in
Operation
Opened 16 October 1989 (1989-10-16)
Owner Indian Railways
Operator(s) Southern Railway zone
Technical
Line length 100 km (62 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)
Operating speed 100 km/h (62 mph)
Route map
Legend
km
Up arrow to Aluva
LowerRight arrow to Kottayam
-2 Ernakulam C Cabin
0 Ernakulam Junction Parking
5 Tirunettur
8 Kumbalam
12 Aroor Halt
18 Ezhupunna
23 Turavur
27 Vayalar
33 Cherthala
39 Tiruvizha
44 Mararikulam
48 Kalavur Halt
54 Tumboli
58 Alappuzha Parking
63 Punnapra
70 Ambalappuzha
75 Takazhi
82 Karuvatta Halt
88 Haripad
93 Cheppad
Right arrowto Kottayam
115 Kayamkulam Junction Parking
121 Ochira
129 Karunagappalli
136 Sasthamkotta
139 Munroturuttu
147 Perinad
Right arrowto Punalur
Kallumthazham Overpass
Chemmanmukku Overpass
156 Kollam Junction Bus interchangeParking
Down arrowto Thiruvananthapuram Central

Ernakulam–Kayamkulam coastal railway line is a railway line which runs along the coastal areas of Alappuzha, Ernakulam districts in Kerala state of India. The coastal railway line starts as a branch line from Ernakulam Junction railway station towards Alappuzha and joins with the route via Kottayam at Kayamkulam Junction. The coastal railway line has a total distance of 100 km.

History

The initial survey for the Ernakulam–Kayamkulam railway line via Alappuzha was started in 1975. The initial proposed alignment of the railway line from Ernakulam Junction to Alappuzha has been changed after protests from various quarters. The final alignment of the route which was approved was Ernakulam–Konthuruty–Nettor–KumbalamAroorCherthala–Alappuzha. The construction of railway line was started on 15 April 1979 and the construction has been divided into two reaches as Ernakulam–Alappuzha reach and Alappuzha–Kayamkulam reach.[1]

Ernakulam–Alappuzha section

The construction of this coastal railway line in Ernakulam JunctionAlappuzha railway station section was started in 1979. Around 140 hectares of land was acquired for laying the railway lines. 11 new railway stations and 6 major bridges has been constructed along this route. The total cost outlay was 7 crores and the total length of the railway line is 54 km. The line was opened to railway traffic on 16 October 1989.

Alappuzha–Kayamkulam section

The construction of Alappuzha–Kayamkulam section was started as part of second phase of coastal railway development and the alignment was via AlappuzhaPunnapraAmbalappuzhaHaripadKayamkulam. The total length of the railway line was 45 km and the line was opened to railway traffic on 1992. Thus the Ernakulam JunctionAlappuzha coastal railway line has been connected to Kayamkulam Junction railway stationKollam Junction main railway line.

Stations

There are 18 stations along this route. Alappuzha, Cherthala, Haripad, Ambalappuzha stations are the major stations along this route.

Electrification & track doubling

Ernakulam JunctionAlappuzhaKayamkulam railway line is fully electrified. The double line work on 13 km Kayamkulam–Haripad section has been completed and the double line track was commissioned in January 2012. The track doubling work for Haripad–Ernakulam Junction is currently in progress.

Rail traffic

The Ernakulam–Alappuzha–Kayamkulam coastal railway line has 20 express trains and 7 passenger trains running along this route.

Trains connecting the cities of Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi are increasingly preferring this route to the one via Kottayam because this route is shorter and saves considerable amount of time in reaching these cities. Major trains like Thiruvananthapuram-Kozhikode Jan Shatabdi Express and Thiruvananthapuram-Delhi Rajdhani Express run via Alappuzha.

See also

References

  1. E Sreedharan-Autobiography DC Books, 2014, pages 47-51
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