The Kayamkulam – Ernakulam Express, which was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi today as part of the dedication of the Pathanamthitta – Kurupantara – Chingavanam second rail line to the country, will start daily service from tomorrow. Train (16310) departing from Kayamkulam at 3 pm will reach Ernakulam at 5.50 pm. The timings at the intermediate stations are Chengannur-3.20, Tiruvalla-3.31, Changanassery-3.41, Kottayam-4.00 and Piravam Road-4.35.
Service (16309) from Ernakulam departs daily at 8.45 am and reaches Kayamkulam at 11.40 am. The timings are Piravam–9.19, Kottayam–9.52, Changanassery–10.15, Thiruvalla–10.25, Chengannur–10.36. Express service will be done using Memu Rake.
Although the Kottayam line has been doubled, none of the long-distance trains terminating at Ernakulam have yet been extended to Kottayam. Mumbai – Ernakulam may be extended to Kottayam but no action has been taken. This would not have been possible without the Konkan Railway. Turanto arrives at Mangaluru at 10.25 in the morning. Only if Turanto is speeded up in Konkan and handed over to Palakkad division at least an hour and a half earlier can it be delivered to Kottayam and returned. Although the Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad divisions are ready to be extended to Duranto Kottayam, this cannot be done without the agreement of the Central Railway and the Konkan Railway.
Turanto has only one stop between Mangaluru and Ernakulam. But the one-stop Durantho Mangaluru – Ernakulam takes 7 hours 55 minutes. Rajdhani with 5 stops and Kochuveli – Mumbai Garibrath with 6 stops cover the same distance in 7 hours 10 minutes and 7 hours 15 minutes respectively. More time has been given on the grounds that there are many trains ahead of Turanto to Ernakulam. To reduce the running time, Turantho should be placed in front of these trains. Kozhikode – Thiruvananthapuram should cross Kozhikode before the birth centenary. Demands such as making the Dibrugarh – Kanyakumari Vivek Express daily and allowing a new night service on the Kottayam – Bengaluru route have not been implemented.
English Summary: Report on Kayamkulam – Ernakulam Express starts daily services tomorrow onwards concern over train timings, services