Whipping rain that overwhelmed the city on Thursday paralysed train services through Ernakulam Junction railway station.
Tracks sank without any trace at the station following severe water logging.
Most short-haul trains were cancelled, while express trains were late by hours. Most express trains scheduled through Alappuzha were rerouted through Ernakulam Town railway station and they went via Kottayam.
Ernakulam Area Manager of Southern Railway P.L. Asok Kumar said services could get back to normal only after water recedes since tracks were submerged even late into evening hours. “The signalling system cannot function in this condition and trains are being regulated manually, a time-consuming process.”
Many trains were terminated at Tripunithura, Edappally and Kumbalam stations. “The diversion of trains through Kottayam has delayed trains that operate through Kottayam as well,” Mr. Kumar said.
The railway officials are pointing their fingers at the clogged drains for causing flooding. A few officials of the railway met their counterparts in the corporation and told them of the need for proper, well-maintained drains.
Over the years, the railway and the corporation have been sparring over the reason for water logging in the western parts of the city. While the railway has sought Corporation’s help to drain out water from its premises, the civic agency has been blaming the railway for inadequate and ‘narrow’ culverts beneath tracks that hinder runoff.
Trains that were cancelled, terminated and diverted on Thursday:
1)Express trains diverted through Kottayam:
Train No. 12075 Kozhikode- Thiruvananthapuram JanShatabdi express; Train No.16603 Mangalore- Nagercoil Ernad Express; Train No. 16604 Thiruvananthapuram- Mangalore maveli express; Train No.12431, Rajadhani Express from Thiruvananthapuram to Nizamuddin and Train No. 16342 Thiruvananthapuram - Guruvayur intercity express train that ply via Alappuzha were diverted via Kottayam route with stops at Chengannur, Thiruvalla, Changanassery and Kottayam stations on Thursday. Rajdhani express stopped only at Kottayam.
2)Cancellations and short terminations:
Train No.56381 Ernakulam Junction –Kayankulam passenger and its return trip; Train No. 56370 Ernakulam – Guruvayur Passenger; Train No. 56373 Guruvayur – Thrissur Passenger and its return trip;
Train No. 56375 Guruvayur – Ernakulam Passenger; Train No.56379 Ernakulam – Alappuzha passenger and Train No. 56384 Alappuzha – Ernakulam Passenger train.
