Cochin harbour Terminus:
A ticket to the past
By Madan Menon Thottasseri
Shoranur - ERG ( Ernakulam Terminus) was a MG section and after the BG conversion, new stations viz. Ernakulam Town ( ERN) and Ernakulam Junction ( ERS) stations were made and also the line towards CHTS ( Cochin Harbour Terminus) ) via. Perumanoor and Mattancherry Halt . CHTS is located in Willingdon...
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Island, and thus very strategically important for its proximity to the Cochin Port. In fact, this station was built mainly to handle cargo from the Cochin harbour. Passenger trains became operational in ERS-CHTS route right from 1943 with the introduction of the Cochin-Shoranur passenger. The introduction of the Madras-Cochin Express in 1944 elevated the status of CHTS. The Tea Garden Express and Island Express, named after Willingdon Island, enhanced the significance of this route. In the course of two decades many more trains chugged through this route, passing and stopping at Perumanoor. In fact, at its peak of operation 16 trains started from CHT and plied this line.
We should know that CHTS was originally intended for the movement of freight from the Cochi port, the other stations on this route were located for the convenience of people living in West Kochi, Perumanoor ( erstwhile township before Shipyard came up) and Thevara. “CHTS was mostly used by the middle-level officers and residents of Willingdon Island and the people from Mattancherry who came in small country boats to CHTS. Mattancherry Halt was conveniently located for those staying at Edacochin, Palluruthy and Thoppumpady, while Perumanoor was easily accessible for those at Thevara and at Naval Base. With the bridges connecting the island to the mainland, with the road to Thevara widened, more buses began plying on this route. This lead to the closure of the Halt. In olden days. students from ‘far off’ places like Chowara, Aluva, Angamali, Chalakudy etc. came to SH College and they usually took the train and alighted at this station
The idea of a new suburban rail system, which the Railways is working on earnestly, will revive this route once again upon up-gradation of the existing infrastructure. Then trains from northern and southern districts, as well as from far off cities could terminate their trip at CHTS. This suburban rail network is expected to ease acute congestion and pollution on national and state highways besides bringing back to life now abandoned stations on the route.
There must be fresh rail link so as give direct access to the CHTS from Alappuzha side bypassing Ernakulam junction (ERS). Of course more platforms and other requisite facilities for both passenger and cargo traffic are to be implemented at CHTS.
The Indian Railway has decided to develop one Platform and one rail track of the Ernakulam Terminus ( called as Ernakulam Railway Goods Station (Station Code is ERG) with an initial budgetary allocation of Rs.12 Crore. Probably the station will be used for one passenger train service to start with. And subsequently if the passenger traffic crosses the threshold then further funds will be allocated in the coming budget to further develop the station. Many criticisms including the possible destruction of man-made bird sanctuary Magalavanam are partly taken care considering the possibility of a slow pace of development of the station envisaged based on passenger requirement. This railway station is very near to the High Court of Kerala. I have advocated many times stating that the ERG Terminus can be renamed as Kochi H.C (High Court, let the Station Code be ERG itself, no harm!) as it is just behind the Kerala High Court situated there. Railway ministry must allocate funds for rejuvenation of the ram-shackled station building and renovate installations and provide railway lines/yards etc. The Boat Jetty near the HC can be connected to the railway terminus through a 'sky-walk'. While making this as a terminal station for passenger and MEMU trains and even Express trains towards Thrissur and beyond, it is desirable to have a station at Pachalam.
ERG Terminus which is under dilapidated condition, despite having facilities like Parcel Office, maintenance of coaches, water filling etc. must get renovation. I came to know that there were some constraints, rather objections to this Station due to lack of space for providing double track entry to the station via. Pachalam, in place of the single track presently there. Further there cannot be a shunting-neck in the entrance of the station. Let the Railway Ministry appoints an experts' team to work-out feasible options for ERG with or without acquiring land. The people of Kerala and the state government must seriously campaign for the renovation of ERG as a terminal which has a monumental value while it was related with the first visit of Mahatma Gandhi who alighted from the train there.
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