Rail traffic between Ernakulam and Kottayam has been restored to normal with the Railways on Tuesday completing the current phase of track doubling and maintenance works at the Ernakulam Town (North) station.
According to officials, the trains coming from Kottayam side will no more have to be halted outside the station waiting for signals and the route between Shoranur and Tripunithura is now a double line.
“Further, the permanent speed restriction of 15 km per hour between the North and the South station will be lifted within a week and trains can take 65 kmph speed in Ernakulam area, in addition to the installation of a modern signal interlocking system at the Ernakulam Town station,” they said. Track-doubling works on the 1.5 km stretch between Ernakulam Junction and the marshalling yard was being initiated as a solution to the rail traffic congestion between Ernakulam and Kottayam.
The work, which continued for about 16 days, caused regulation of several services. “We tried our best not to put commuters to great difficulty. The trains were navigated without automatic signal system during the period. No express train has been cancelled owing to this,” he added.
Doubling the track in the 114-km-long Ernakulam-Kottayam-Kayankulam sector is estimated to cost about Rs. 600 crore. On completion, it will lead to a reduction in travel time between Ernakulam and Kayankulam by around an hour.
