Date:04/07/2009 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2009/07/04/stories/2009070450240100.htm

Kerala

Kerala to get eight new trains

J. Balaji

Thiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam stations to have international standards

Weekly ‘Duronto’ between Ernakulam, New Delhi
Kollam-Punalur gauge conversion in 2009-10

NEW DELHI: Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee has sanctioned eight new trains for Kerala, including one weekly ‘Duronto’ (long-distance non-stop train) between Ernakulam and New Delhi.

The other trains are: Bangalore-Kochuveli super fast weekly express, Shoranur-Nilambur Road daily passenger, Coimbatore-Shoranur daily passenger, Ernakulam-Goa tri-weekly, and Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore daily via Alappuzha. Besides, two new trains, Hapa (Gujarat)-Tirunelveli Junction biweekly super fast and Bilaspur-Tirunelveli Junction weekly super fast, will run via Thiruvananthapuram.

Trains extended

In the course of the railway budget presentation, Ms. Banerjee announced the extension of some trains in the State. They are: the 6517/6518 Bangalore-Mangalore daily to Kannur, the 2075/2076 Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam daily to Kozhikode, and the 6885/6886 Ernakulam-Tiruchirappalli daily to Nagore.

Railways were targeting to complete the gauge conversion work between Kollam and Punalur in 2009-10. Also, proposals have been initiated for laying new lines between Madurai and Ernakulam (Kochi) and along the Erumeli-Pathanamthitta-Punalur-Thiruvananthapuram route.

Thiruvananthapuram Central and Ernakulam Junction have been included on the list of 50 stations that will be developed to international standards. Besides, Ernakulam and Palakkad find a place on the list of stations to have multi-functional facilities such as shopping arcades, food stalls and restaurants, book stalls, telephone booths, medicines and variety stores, budget hotels and underground parking.

These facilities will be developed by Indian Railway Construction Corporation Limited and the Rail Land Development Authority.