Cochin Harbour terminus awaits green signal again

Kochi: The city will witness rebirth of a historic railway station when the Cochin Harbour terminus becomes operational again. The fate of the station was once considered sealed when trains stopped arriving there.

The station first became functional in 1943. During its days of glory, 17 trains started their trips from the terminus. They included Madras Mail, Island Express, Tea Garden Express and several other popular trains which are still crunning – but giving the terminus a miss.

Tea Garden Express began services to transport tea from Mettupalayam to Kochi port. It is now called Ernakulam-Karaikal Express. The mention of ‘Island’ in Kanyakumari-Bengaluru Island Express is credited the Willingdon Island.

Major trains like Jayanti Janatha, Netravathi, Mangala, Rapthisagar and Parasuram had all once rolled into Cochin Harbour terminus. The Cochin Express that legendary singer Yesudas boarded in his struggle days to reach Madras to sing in movies is now called the Chennai-Alleppey express.

The decline of Cochin Harbour terminus began when the railway track was extended south to Kottayam and Alappuzha via Ernakulam Junction. Since then, Ernakulam Junction gained superiority. Later, when electrification took place in other stations, it could not be carried out in Cochin Harbour terminus after the Navy denied clearance. Soon, the station began fading away from the railway map.

The only service that was operational for a long time was the Shoranur-Cochin passenger which, incidentally, was the first ever train to travel to Cochin Harbour terminus. However, this service too was stopped after a barge hit the Venduruthi Bridge in 2004. The bridge was later repaired for a high cost, but the passenger train was not resumed. Only goods trains carrying coal and rice travelled along this route, that too infrequently.

However, after persistent public demand, railway minister Suresh Prabhu announced on June 21, 2015 that the terminus would be renovated. He also said that air-conditioned Diesel Electrical Multiple Unit (DEMU) services would start plying soon. Though renovation was started, it was completed only by April 2017. An amount of Rs 7.50 crore was spent for the purpose. The railways has adopted a lackadaisical approach in the matter. Even after the work was over, measures to start operations were commenced only a year later.

Venduruthi Bridge

The bridge was built in 1938. It was damaged twice – in 2004 and 2007. On both occasions, it was the barge ‘Kamal 28’ that hit the bridge. After the first incident, only passenger train services were stopped along the Venduruthi Bridge. When the second collision occurred, authorities stopped even goods train services.

Work for a new bridge was completed by 2015 and the old bridge was dismantled by the railways. Remains of Perumanur halt station near the old bridge can still be seen at Thevara.

Tourist train

The international cruise terminal, where many foreign tourists arrive in luxury ships, is right next to the terminus. This can be utilized to tap tourism potential of the area. A DEMU service can start from the terminus and pass along the Venduruthi Bridge to South railway station. From there, it can head to Edappally and take the route to Vallarpadam container terminal. This track is along the Vembanad Bridge which is located in a scenic area. The trip would be profitable even if a ticket charge of Rs 100 is fixed. Travelling along the Venduruthi Bridge as well as Vembanad Bridge, which is India’s longest railway bridge at 4.6 km, will be a unique experience. The Vembanad railway bridge was built spending Rs 450 crore, but is largely underutilized.

Vistadome coaches sought

Vistadome coaches are operated by the railways for the benefit of tourists at Konkan and Arakku valley near Visakhapatanam. They have a glass roof, large windows, and seats which can be rotated in all directions. The air-conditioned coaches virtually offer a 360 degree view to passengers. The capacity of the coach is 40 persons.

If such a coach is available on the Cochin Harbour terminus–Vallarpadam route, it can be operated as a tourist train. With Alphons Kannanthanam in charge of the tourism ministry in the state, official-level support will be available for the initiative.

Doubts over DEMU service

Passengers in Kochi have welcomed the announcement that DEMU services would start soon from harbour terminus. But it is pointed out that there will be very few passengers to travel from the terminus to Ernakulam South station, which is barely six km away. Some people suspect that the railways may cancel all schedules on the six-km route citing lack of patronage.

Railway officials too are aware of the situation, but the suggestion to renovate the harbour terminus was made by them to reduce the congestion at South station. At least two passenger trains which terminate services at South in the morning can be extended to harbour terminus. Passengers have also demanded daily services in the morning and evening between the terminus and Thrissur.

Another suggestion is to make shuttle boat services available for the benefit of train passengers arriving at the terminus from Mattancherry wharf on Willingdon island. The boats can be operated to Mattancherry and Kamalakadavu in Fort Kochi.

Demands have been made to start trains from the terminus to Velankanni and Rameswaram also. Passengers from Thoppumpady and Vathuruthy can board the trains from Mattancherry Halt.

However, if the railways decide to confine a trip to the Cochin harbour terminus–Ernakulam South route, it would be the second shortest train service in the country. The record is held by the three-km service between Nagpur and Ajni in Maharashtra.