Palakkad/ Thiruvananthapuram/ Kochi: Rail traffic has been restored on almost all sections stretching from Thiruvananthapuram to Mangaluru after the floods disrupted the schedule of several trains across Kerala. However, trains could be delayed as their speed has been limited on several stretches as a precaution.
It will take two days to restore normal traffic, railway officials stated.
Services yet to begin
However, traffic has not resumed on the Thrissur-Guruvayur and the Kollam-Sengottai routes. Railway authorities said they expected the traffic along the Thrissur-Guruvayur segment to restart Tuesday evening after repair work is completed.
On the Kollam-Sengottai route, traffic has been restored only up to Punalur. Maintenance work has to be undertaken from Punalur to Sengottai, which is across the Kerala border.
Palakkad route
All tracks under Palakkad division are ready for full-scale operations. Maintenance work was completed on the Ernakulam-Shoranur route by 11 pm Sunday. A trial run was conducted at 6 am on Monday, and the Ernakulam-Kannur Intercity Express passed at 8 am.
Special trains
Special trains were operated from Kochuveli to Chennai and Bhubaneswar.
Services on long routes, including Chennai-Mangaluru, resumed on Monday. Long-distance trains which were diverted via Nagercoil will be back on normal routes from Tuesday.
A total of 30 trains had to be cancelled in the last several days as trains were held up at several places due to flooding on tracks.
Tuesday's trains
Cancelled: Ernakulam-Kannur (16305), Kannur-Ernakulam (16306), Nagercoil-Mangaluru (16606), Kannur-Thiruvananthapuram Express (12081) and Shoranur-Ernakulam passenger (56361).
Normalcy restored: Madurai-Thiruvananthapuram, Rajyarani Express, Mangaluru-Chennai Central, Chennai-Mangaluru Egmore Express, Coimbatore- Mangaluru Intercity, Coimbatore Passenger, Ernakulam-Karaikal, and Thiruvananthapuram-New Delhi Kerala Express.
The Shoranur-Ernakulam train started its first service at 7.40 am on Tuesday. The Chennai- Thiruvananthapuram unreserved train which will leave Chennai at 5.30 pm on Tuesday will reach Palakkad by 3.55 am Wednesday.
