A diesel locomotive conducted trial run on the Ernakulam-Cochin Goods Yard stretch on Thursday as a prelude to a train laden with rails meant for replacing tracks in the vicinity of the Harbour Terminus (HT) railway station calling at the yard later this month.
The HT station is being renovated to host the city’s first diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) train in April. The train’s route is yet to be finalised. To establish connectivity, tracks and sleepers at a distance of 2 km will be replaced. Thursday’s trial run attains significance since rail alignment in the goods-yard sector was refixed a month ago.
Tracks awaited
Meanwhile, a train carrying 110-metre-long tracks to be laid on the 2-km route up to HT is expected to arrive at the yard in a week. Such long tracks cannot be ferried in trailer lorries. Track laying up to HT will be completed by the end of March, so that trains can be run up to HT from April. The station building and platform at HT too are being renovated and tidied to host trains with up to 18 coaches, railway sources said.
Only trains with diesel engines can be operated on the Ernakulam-Harbour Terminus route since the Navy has opposed electrification of the corridor, citing safety hazards to aircraft, the sources added.
Rail connectivity to Willingdon Island was affected after two dredgers deployed by the Cochin Port Trust rammed the pillars of the Venduruthy bridge, which was built during the British era in the 1930s. Subsequently, new rail and road bridges were built parallel to the two old bridges.
In the long run, the HT station is expected to decongest the Ernakulam Junction station, which has limited berthing space. It will, in turn, speed up trains passing through Ernakulam, especially during morning and evening peak hours. It will also enable the operation of short-distance trains linking Ernakulam with neighbouring districts.
