Amritha Express is an overnight express train operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways between Thiruvananthapuram Central in Kerala, and Madurai Junction in Tamil Nadu. This train is approved for extension upto Rameswaram via Manamadurai, Paramakkudi and Ramanathapuram. At first, it was extended from Palakkad to Palakkad Town, then later extended upto Pollachi, then again extended to Madurai. And now for the fourth time it’s approved for extension to Rameswaram. This train marks as the first direct connectivity train to Palani & Rameswaram from Kerala. Also from Trivandrum to Dindigul there’s no direct train service to Rameswaram. Therefore this train will be a greatest benefit for the passengers enroute.
The Nilambur–Shoranur line is a 66 kilometres (41 mi)-long single-line, electrified broad-gauge (1676 mm) railway spur branch line of the Indian Railways connecting Nilambur Road railway station in Malappuram district with Shoranur Junction in Palakkad district in the state of Kerala. It is a branch line administered by the Palakkad railway division of the Southern Railway zone and one of the shortest broad-gauge railway lines in India. It was laid by the British in the colonial era for the transportation of Nilambur Teak logs to the United Kingdom through Kozhikode. The line is electrified and was inspected by railway officials from Southern Railway on 30 March 2024. With this, the Palakkad division achieved 100% electrification.
Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section is a high density railway corridor in Kerala state, India, running from Shoranur Junction in Palakkad district through Thrissur district to Kochi in Ernakulam district. The Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section is strategic and the lifeline of Kerala economy that connects the state to other parts of India. It is central to the provision of fast, long-distance Intercity and Express passenger services between Kerala and other cities of India. It is operated by Thiruvananthapuram railway division of the Southern Railway zone.
Shoranur Junction is an NSG–3 category Indian railway station in Palakkad railway division of Southern Railway zone. It is the railway station located at Shoranur, Palakkad District, Kerala. It comes under the Palakkad Railway Division of the Southern Railway. It is the largest railway station in the state of Kerala in terms of area. It is an important junction because it is the point at which the line from Chennai via Jolarpettai, Erode and Palakkad meets the coastal line from Mangalore to Kanyakumari. Further, Shoranur junction is the node from which a separate Branch line goes to the town of Nilambur, about 66 km to the north. The Nilambur–Shoranur line, which connects two tiny hill-towns, is one of the most picturesque in India.
Cochin Harbour Terminus is an NSG–6 category Indian railway station in Thiruvananthapuram railway division of Southern Railway zone. It is one of the railway stations in the city of Kochi, in the state of Kerala, India. During the peak time of the station, 17 trains operated from here to different parts of the country and served as the principal station providing rail connectivity to the southern segment of the Port of Kochi located on the Willingdon Island. The station, which has not been in use after the commissioning of Vallarpadam container terminus is now locked and all the train service to the station from Ernakulam Junction were completely stopped in 2013. Since then, only occasional tourist trains carrying passengers will arrive at the station – notably the Golden Chariot in 2022.
The Shoranur–Mangalore section, also known as Shoranur–Mangaluru section, is a railway segment of IR functioning under Palakkad Division of Southern Railway Zone. This is a 5 ft 6 in broad gauge electrified line which begins at the Shornur Junction railway station in Kerala and ends at the Mangalore Central railway station in Karnataka. This line passes through major towns including Tirur, Kozhikode, Vatakara, Thalassery, Kannur, Payyannur, Kanhangad and Kasaragod.
Kannur railway station (station code: CAN) is an NSG–2 category Indian railway station in Palakkad railway division of Southern Railway zone. It is the largest railway station serving the City of Kannur in Kerala. It lies in the Shoranur–Mangalore section of the Southern Railway zone. It is the largest railway station in terms of area and number of tracks in North Malabar region. At ₹62 crore in financial year 2018–19, it is the fifth largest in terms of passenger revenues in Kerala, and second largest under Palakkad railway division. Almost all major trains connecting the other parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and North India halt here. Kannur and Kannur South are two different stations which serve Kannur city.
Mulangunnathukavu railway station is an NSG–6 category Indian railway station in Thiruvananthapuram railway division of Southern Railway zone. It is in Mulakunnathukavu, a panchayat in Puzhakkal block of Thrissur, which is situated between Wadakkanchery railway station and Punkunnam railway station in the busy Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section.
Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division (TVC) is one of the six administrative divisions of the Southern Railway, Indian Railways. It has its headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of the state of Kerala, India. Thiruvananthapuram Division was formed on 2 October 1979 which serves the eight districts of southern part of the Kerala, Kanniyakumari district. With 104 stations in its territorial jurisdiction, it is the fourth largest out of six divisions in Southern Railway. It is the southernmost railway division of India and manages 625 km of route track and 108 railway stations in the states of Kerala and Tamil Nadu. The major stations of the division are Thiruvananthapuram Central, Ernakulam Junction,Kollam Junction,Thrissur,Alappuzha,Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Chengannur, Kayamkulam, Aluva, Nagercoil Junction, Kanniyakumari, Changanasseri, Tiruvalla, Kochuveli, Varkala, Mavelikara, Angamaly and Karunagappally.
Thrissur railway station is an NSG–2 category Indian railway station in Thiruvananthapuram railway division of Southern Railway zone. It is a railway station in Kerala, India. Thrissur also is known as the Cultural Capital of Kerala. Thrissur railway station is a major railway head in South India and A1 classified station operated by the Southern Railway zone of the Indian Railways and comes under the Thiruvananthapuram railway division. It is the busiest railway station in Kerala state in terms of rail traffic with 189 halting trains. At ₹97 crore in financial year 2018–19, it is the fourth largest in terms of passenger revenues in Kerala and the eighth largest in Southern Railway. Daily trains are available to Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai, Mangalore, and Hyderabad. This station lies on the Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section, which is one of the busiest railway corridors in Kerala. It has three satellite stations, Punkunnam railway station and two minor stations, Ollur railway station and Mulankunnathukavu railway station. Thrissur railway station also connects to the temple town of Guruvayur by Thrissur–Guruvayur section.
Palakkad railway division is one of the six administrative divisions of the Southern Railway zone of Indian Railways. It is headquartered at city of Palakkad, Kerala. It is the smallest railway division in Southern Railway. It was formed by dissolving the Podanur division. Managing 588 route kilometers of track in the states of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Mahé, it is one of the oldest railway divisions in India and had a route connectivity of nearly 1,247 km before the formation of current Thiruvananthapuram and Salem divisions. The terminal facility of Palakkad division is situated in Shoranur Junction & Mangalore Central of Karnataka state.
Kottayam railway station is an NSG–3 category Indian railway station in Thiruvananthapuram railway division of Southern Railway zone. It is located in Kottayam, Kerala state, India. Kottayam lies on the busy rail route between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam. It is an NSG 3 category station. The station is served by several long-distance trains connecting most major cities in the country on a daily basis like New Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Coimbatore, Bhopal, Pune and Mangalore. Trains connecting extreme ends of india also passes through the station like Jammu tawi, Dibrugarh etc. It is one of the busiest station in Thiruvananthapuram central - Ernakulam route due to ease in accessibility of Sabarimala temple. Kottayam railway station is the halt station for passengers to Sabarimala temple, Vagamon, Kumarakom, Illickal kallu - high range, St. Alphonsa's tomb, Pala and so on. Station has 2 passing platforms -, and 4 terminal platforms. Except platform 1A all the platforms are able to accommodate locomotives with 24 coaches and platform 1A can accommodate Memu/passenger trains with 13 coaches. Station is currently under construction with a second entrance. By completing double line from Chingavanam to Ettumanoor, southern railway has achieved its complete stretch of double rail line from Thiruvananthapuram to Mangalore
Punalur railway station is an NSG–6 category Indian railway station in Madurai railway division of Southern Railway zone. It serves Punalur, located in Kollam district of the Indian state of Kerala.
Kulukkallur railway station is a major railway station serving the village of Kulukkallur, near Pattambi in the Palakkad district of Kerala. It lies in the Shoranur–Mangalore section of the Southern Railways. Trains halting at the station connect the town to prominent cities in India such as Nilambur, Shoranur and Angadipuram.
Melattur railway station is a minor railway station serving the town of Melattur in the Malappuram district of Kerala, India. It lies on scenic Nilambur–Shoranur line of Palakkad Division of Southern Railways. Trains halting at the station connect the town to prominent cities in Kerala such as Nilambur, Shoranur, Palakkad, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram.
Nilambur Road railway station is an NSG–5 category Indian railway station in Palakkad railway division of Southern Railway zone. It is a railway terminus serving the town of Nilambur in the Malappuram district of Kerala, India. It is the station for the Shoranur–Nilambur Road spur rail line of Palakkad Division of Southern Railways. Trains halting at the station connect the town to prominent cities in Kerala, such as Palakkad, Thrissur, Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Thiruvananthapuram.
This is the timeline for Southern Railway zone that encompasses over present day Tamil Nadu, Kerala and parts of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka.
The Palaruvi Express is a daily Intercity express train which runs between Tuticorin in Tamil Nadu and Palakkad Junction in Kerala via Tirunelveli Junction, Tenkasi Junction, Punalur, Kollam Junction, and Kottayam. The train first introduced between Punalur in Kollam and Palakkad. On 9 July 2018, it was extended up to Tirunelveli Junction and later on 15 August 2024 it was extended till Tuticorin.
Kerala Rail Development Corporation d/b/a Kerala-Rail is a public sector joint venture company under the ownership of the Government of Kerala for the railway infrastructure development in Kerala. The company was incorporated on 3 January 2017.
