RailEnquiry

KOCHI: Rail traffic in north Kerala is in for major disruption during the second half of this month following the decision to undertake the much-delayed doubling work of a small stretch from Shoranur.Some of the trains will stop journey at Thrissur and Ernakulam stations while some others will run late, during the period. Doubling of the nearly 5-km Shoranur-Karakkad stretch on the Shoranur-Mangalore line was to be completed in the last financial year. But this stretch remained single line even when rest of the Shoranur-Mangalore track was commissioned after doubling last year. This was causing major delays for the trains on the Shoranur-Mangalore track.The doubling work has now been tentatively fixed from March 15 to April 4, but the dates will be finalized only after the commissioner of rail safety gives the clearance, railway sources told TOI here. However, instructions have already been issued to suspend booking for some which will be dislocated by the repair work.

According to tentative plans, Nagercoil-Mangalore Ernad Express and Kozhikode-Thiruvananthapuram Jan Shatabdi Express (Via Alappuzha) will be terminated in Thrissur, while Thiruvananthapuram -Shoranur Venad Express will stop journey at Ernakulam. The Parasuram Express is likely to be stopped at Angamaly, the sources said. The fate of Kozhikode-Trivandrum Jan Shatabdi (Via Kottayam), Ernakulam-Kannur Intercity Express, and Kannur-Alappuzha Express are yet to be decided.

Ghorakpur Express, Indore Express, Bilaspur Express, Dhanbad Express and Sabari Express are likely to be diverted through Vadakkanchery-Ottappalam route without touching Shornur during the period. Long distance trains passing through the Shornur-Mangalore route are likely to face delays during the doubling work, the sources said.

Sources said much of the work has been completed and only some linking work remains to be completed. It is being undertaken on an urgent basis to get it completed in this financial year itself, they said.