After being in cold storage for many years, the proposal to revive old railway station located behind the High Court of Kerala into a passenger terminus is getting due attention.
The Railway had entrusted Senior Divisional Engineer (SDE) (Coordination) of Thiruvananthapuram Division with the task of preparing a feasibility report on the possibility of reviving the station and also Harbour Terminus in Wellingdon Island. This followed Wednesday’s visit of S. Anantharaman, Chief Operations Manager of Southern Railway, to the two stations where tracks and station buildings are rather intact. The station, located in 40 acres of land, and the Harbour Station can considerably decongest Ernakulam Town and Junction stations, by providing terminal facilities for select trains, mainly during peak hours.
Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Manager Sunil Bajpai said that further discussions would be held based on what the SDE suggests. “It is too early and tentative to say anything concrete about reviving old railway station. We have to analyse the cost benefit of reviving the station, the infrastructure required at the station and technical feasibility of terminating a few trains there,” he said.
“Mr Anantaraman’s visit shows that the Railway is keen on making optimal use of land available at the two stations,” Mr. Bajpai added.
Ernakulam Area Manager of Southern Railway Rajesh Chandran said a clear picture on revival proposal for the two stations would emerge on the basis of policy decisions taken at the zonal level. “The expected commissioning of Venduruthy rail overbridge offers some hope of resuming train services to Harbour Terminus,” he said.
The Ernakulam Old Railway Station Vikasana Samity, other NGOs and passenger associations have been demanding introduction of a few diesel loco trains to the station and also Harbour Terminus since the two lines have not been electrified.
