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
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 to Aluva to Kottayam -2 Ernakulam C Cabin 0 Ernakulam Junction 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 63 Punnapra 70 Ambalappuzha 75 Takazhi 82 Karuvatta Halt 88 Haripad 93 Cheppad to Kottayam 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

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–Kumbalam–Aroor–Cherthala–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 Junction–Alappuzha 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 Alappuzha–Punnapra–Ambalappuzha–Haripad–Kayamkulam. The total length of the railway line was 45 km and the line was opened to railway traffic on 1992. Thus the Ernakulam Junction–Alappuzha coastal railway line has been connected to Kayamkulam Junction railway station–Kollam 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 Junction–Alappuzha–Kayamkulam 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 Ernakuam–Alappuzha–Kayamkulam coastal railway line has 20 express trains and 7 passenger trains running along this route.

See also

• Kayamkulam Junction
• Alappuzha railway station
• Ernakulam South
• Kollam Junction

References

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