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 . The Ernakulam Town/Ernakulam Junction - Kottayam section opened in 1956-57 and Kottayam - Kollam section in 1957. Stations. There are  18 railway stations along the stretch. The major stations are , , , , , , and . The details of the railway stations (excluding Ernakulam D Cabin - ERSD) with annual earnings in 2018-2019 is shown below. "**Note:-" 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 , and 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. 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 and  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 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. 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. 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. 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. Future Plans. Various plans are in consideration to connect the line to various regions of middle Kerala. However the Government of Kerala is now focusing on the alignment for the semi high speed rail corridor from Kochuveli to  Kasaragod, which expects minimal land acquisition, faster means of travel from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. under KRDCL. 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