Ernakulam–Kollam line (via Kottayam)
Ernakulam-Kollam line between platforms 3 and 4 of Kayamkulam Jn.
Overview
Native name	എറണാകുളം-കൊല്ലം റെയിൽ പാത (കോട്ടയം, കായംകുളം വഴി)
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Kerala
Termini	Ernakulam Town Kollam Junction
Stations	25
Website	www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in
Service
Type	Regional rail Light rail
Operator(s)	Southern Railway zone
History
Opened	6 January 1956; 69 years ago (1956-01-06)
Technical
Line length	156 km (97 mi)
Number of tracks	2
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 Legend km toAlappuzha 0 Ernakulam Junction toAluva 3 Ernakulam D Cabin A L Jacob overpass Kaloor Road Ponnurunni overpass NH 66 Kaniyampuzha River Eroor overpass NH 85 10 Tripunithura Hill Palace Road 14 Chottanikkara Road Arakunnam overpass 17 Mulanturutti Mulanturutti Block Road 22 Kanjiramittam Muvattupuzha River 29 Piravam Road SH 40 35 Vaikom Road SH 15 Chullithodu Valiyathodu River 38 Kaduturutti Halt Malliyoor Bypass North overpass 42 Kuruppanthara Malliyoor Bypass South overpass 49 Ettumanur Ettumanur overpass SH 32 Meenachil River Kumaranalloor overpass 56 Kumaranallur Meenachil River SH 1 60 Kottayam overpass Mother Teresa Road NH 183 Kodoor River Puthupally Road Sree Durga Temple Road 67 Chingavanam Paruthumpara Road overpass Chethipuzha Kurichy Road Kurichy overpass Plamoodu overpass Vazhoor Road 78 Changanasseri Kaviyoor Road Kuttapuzha Road 86 Tiruvalla SH 7 Manimala River Varattar River overpass Pamba River NH 183 95 Chengannur SH 10 SH 10 101 Cheriyanad Achankovil River SH 10 Kallumala overpass Kattanam Road 107 Mavelikara Pullamplavil underpass Mavellikara - Kayamkulam Road toAlappuzha 115 Kayamkulam Junction SH 5 121 Ochira Chakkuvally Road 129 Karunagappalli Kottarakkara Road Thodiyur overpass Pallikkal River 136 Sasthamkotta NH 183A Kanatharkunnam overpass Kallada River 139 Munroturuttu Pezhumthuruthu Ashtamudi Lake Perumon overpass 147 Perinad NH 183 Perinad overpass NH 744 Moonnamkutti overpass toPunalur NH 66 Kollam Bypass Kallumthazham overpass Chemmamukku overpass 156 Kollam Junction to Thiruvananthapuram Central   This diagram: view talk edit

TheErnakulam–Kollam line (via Kottayam and Kayamkulam) is a railway line which runs through the districts ofErnakulam,Kottayam,Pathanamthitta,Alappuzha andKollam inKerala state of India. This railway line starts as a branch line fromErnakulam Town railway station towards Kottayam and joins with theErnakulam–Kayamkulam coastal line route via Alappuzha atKayamkulam Junction and leads toKollam Junction. This line comes under theThiruvananthapuram railway division ofSouthern Railway Zone ofIndian Railways. The line has a total distance of 156 km (97 mi). The Ernakulam Town/Ernakulam Junction - Kottayam section opened in 1956-57^[1] and Kottayam - Kollam section in 1957-1958.^[2]

Train service began inTravancore, erstwhile Kerala state on 26 November 1904, with the completion of theKollam–Sengottai branch line, which was a part ofKollam -Chennaimeter gauge route. On 4 November 1931, theThiruvananthapuram 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 theThiruvananthapuram -Ernakulam line (220 km) frommeter gauge tobroad gauge was sanctioned. The work was completed in 1976.

The Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam–Kollam line is fully electrified and doubled.

The Kayamkulam -Kollam (41 km) stretch got double tracks in 1996.

The doubling works of Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam 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 theEttumanoor toChingavanam 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.^[3] 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. RecentlyPiravam Road,Vaikom Road, Kuruppanthara, Ettumanur, 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 overbridges etc. Construction activities for relocatingEttumanur station to the middle ofNeendoor andAthirampuzha roads are almost done.^[4] TheKottayam station, which is the main station along the route has also been renovated during progress of rail doubling works.

The iconic tunnels between Chingavanam and Kottayam (near Kottayam station) have been used as shunting lines after track doubling.^[5] 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.

There are 25 railway stations along the stretch. The major stations areErnakulam Town,Kottayam,Chengannur,Tiruvalla,Changanacherry,Tripunithura,Mavelikara,Kayamkulam Junction,karunagappalli, andKollam Junction. The details of the railway stations is shown below.

**Note:-

1. 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].
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^[6][7]

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 likeNew 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.

This line has significant role in connecting people to various social, economic, political and religious centers of middle part of Kerala. The railway stations atChengannur,Kottayam andTiruvalla act as the reception centers for people from various parts of country to the famous Hindu pilgrim centerSabarimala. TheChengannur station has been declared as the "Gateway of Sabarimala" byIndian Railways in 2009. During Sabarimala pilgrim (Mandala) season, state transport buses(KSRTC) operate from these stations (mainly from Chengannur and 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 likeKumarakom,Thekkady,Vagamon and other tourism destinations inIdukki district. TheChanganacherry Railway Station acts as a gateway toKuttanad and to tourist spots ofIdukki.Hill Palace,Infopark-Kochi, various industries likeKEL,FACT etc. are situated in proximity toTripunithura railway station.

Sasthamkotta railway station is near scenicSasthamcotta lake.Munrothuruthu railway station and Perinad railway station is near toMunroe islands andSambranikodi island situated inAshtamudi lake which is a famous tourist destination for canoe tour, bird watching, nature walks and photography.

Connection to Kochi City Metro

TheTripunithura metro station, the terminal metro station ofKochi metro was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 6 March 2024. This terminal metro station is located in close proximity to theTripunithura 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 theTripunithura railway station as it is located close enough for them to switch over to the metro.

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

• New lines from Chengannur:1) A line connectingChengannur to Pamba (nearest point ofSabarimala) viaRanni is waiting for approval. This route is now under active consideration as a sky rail project.^[8]2) A link toErumeli-Punalur line, a proposed extension ofSabari line^[9] viaAdoor,Pandalam.^[10]
• Ettumanoor – Pala Sabari Link line^[11] : A 15 kmEttumanoor –Pala new BG line is estimated by Kerala Rail Development Corporation (KRDCL) which connectsEttumanoor to proposedPala station as part of the proposedAngamaly-Erumeli Sabari railway line.^{[citation needed]} This line is expected to be a cost-effective link that will function as an outer ring rail forKochi.
• Suburban Line: A suburban transit system is proposed betweenThiruvananthapuram andChengannur to cater to huge commuter transportation needs and introducing more trains likeDEMU /MEMU. This project is under consideration of Kerala Rail Development Corporation (KRDCL) and a DPR is prepared byMumbai Rail Vikas Corporation with an estimated cost Rs. 1,836 Crores.^[12]
• New lines from Tiruvalla : A line fromTiruvalla toThakazhi, a village inAlappuzha district (thus connecting the Ernakulam–Kottayam–Kayamkulam line andErnakulam-Alappuzha-Kayamkulam parallel rail lines) has been proposed.^[13] In 2011 - 12 railway budget a Tiruvalla - Ranni - Pampa Railway line was proposed. If implemented, it may open up a Alappuzha - Tiruvalla - Ranni - Punalur - Tuticorin Corridor. Now these projects are not in active consideration and are dropped.
• Earlier there was a proposal for abroad gauge line betweenKottayam andMadurai viaIdukki andTheni.^[14][15] This line was proposed to implement rail connectivity to places inIdukki,Cumbam,Theni etc. and to promote transportation of agricultural, raw materials and other freight traffic betweenTamil Nadu andKerala. Now this project is not in active consideration and are dropped.

However the Government of Kerala is now focusing on the alignment for thesemi high speed rail corridor fromKochuveli toKasaragod (K-Rail Silver Line), which expects minimal land acquisition, faster means of travel fromThiruvananthapuram toKasaragod^[16] underKRDCL.

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

• Ernakulam - Kayamkulam Passenger (via Kottayam), indiarailinfo.com
• Kerala Rail Development Corporation (KRDCL) Projects
• Doubling work on speed track in 115 km long Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayamkulam, Deccan Chronicle

• Rail transport in Kerala
• Thiruvananthapuram railway division
• 5 ft 6 in gauge railways in India
• Transport in Kochi
• Rail transport in Kollam
• Transport in Kottayam district
• Transport in Kollam district

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