Shoranur-Nilambur Railway Line

The Nilambur–Shoranur railway (Malayalam: നിലമ്പൂര്‍–ഷൊര്‍ണൂര്‍ ) is a branch line of the Southern Railway Zone in Kerala state and one of the shortest broad gauge railway lines in India.^[1] It is a single line with 66 km length running from Shoranur Junction (in Palakkad district) to Nilambur Railway Station (in Malappuram district).^[1] This station is just 4 km from the town of Nilambur on the Kozhikode–Ooty highway.^[1] Shoranur–Nilambur Road passenger trains are running on this route.^[1] It is 40 km away from Malappuram town.^[2]

Stations

History

Nilambur is well known for its rich forest, and teak plantation. During the British rule, this forest used to cater to the needs of strong woods for all constructions and furniture making. This was the reason for connecting the railway line to Nilambur from Shoranur junction.^[4] Another reason was to quickly transport armed forces to control Malabar Rebellion occurred in 1921. The line was opened in 1927 in stages: from Shoranur to Angadipuram on 3 February, on to Vaniyambalam on 3 August, with completion on 26 October. The line was closed on 20 January 1941, reopening due to public protest to Angadipuram in April 1953 and throughout on 15 April 1954.

Scenery

The line passes through the eastern part of the Malappuram district and one can enjoy the beauty of the Nilambur forests while passing through. The line crosses Kunthippuzha between Kulukkalloor and Cherukara which borders Palakkad and Malappuram districts. Velliyar river, a major tributary of Kadalundi river (between Pattikkad and Melattur), Olippuzha river, another tributary of Kadalundi river (between Melattur and Tuvvur) and Kuthirappuzha, a tributary of Chaliyar river (between Vaniyambalam and Nilambur road) are other major rivers that this line crosses. Vaniyambalam Para, a huge granite rock is visible from the railway line which is one kilometer away from the Vaniyambalam station.

Services and facilities

Services:

• There are 6 passenger trains on this route at present.

• A new Express train ( Rajya Rani Express) which was announced in the 2011-12 Rail budget connecting Nilambur and the state capital,Thiruvananthapuram. It started running on 16 November 2011.

16350/49–NIL–TVC Rajya Rani Express (Daily)

• One train runs from Nilambur to Palakkad, one from Nilambur to Ernakulam and four trains from Nilambur to Shoranur.

• The line also caters to the FCI godown at Angadipuram in addition to the railway mail services. Ballast goods trains are operated to carry ballast from the Vaniambalam ballast depot.

Facilities

• Computerised reservation facility is available at Angadipuram and Nilambur

• Unreserved Ticketing System (UTS) was introduced at Nilambur and Angadipuram stations in 2008.

• New station buildings is under construction at Nilambur and Angadipuram. UTS cum PRS is also introduced at Vaniambalam (Wandoor) in February 2009.

Train timings

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it. (March 2013)

Nilambur Road–Thiruvananthapuram Central Rajya Rani Express

16350/49–NIL–TVC Rajya Rani Express (Daily)

Timings:

NIL–20:40, SRR–22:00/ 23:30, TVC–06:20

TVC–22:30, SRR–05:30 / 06:00, NIL–07:25

Stoppages: Vaniamabalam, Tuvvur, Melattur, Pattikad, Angadipuram, Vallapuzha and Cherukara.

Composition: 1 3A, 2 SL, 2 GS and 2 SLRs

7 coaches to be merged with Amrita Exp at SRR.

Date of introduction: 16 November 2011

Passenger train timings

Seven pairs of trains (Fourteen services) run on this route including Rajya Rani Express train from Nilambur to Thiruvananthapuram and back.

The future

The Nilambur-Mysore Railway Action Council aims to link this line to Nanjangud near Mysore.(Golden I.T. Corridor) It is hoped that this line will be extended up to Mysore, with its possible route being Nilambur–Gudalur Road (Devala)–Sulthan Bathery–Nanjangud–Mysore. With the extension, the route would become the shortest route from Kerala to Bangalore, Mysore, Hyderabad and North Indian cities. It is expected that the railway line would be extended by 236 km for this purpose. The engineering cum traffic survey of this line has been completed. and the estimated cost of the new line is around 3800 crores.

Sanction has been granted in principle for this line by the Railway Board and Planning Commission.

However, the major hurdles for this are:

• The forested areas in this region, Nilgiri Biosphere.
• Opposition due to apprehension that many trains towards north may be diverted through this new route.
• Opposition from the bus operators running between Kerala and Bangalore.
• Hilly terrain in the Western Ghats

Sanctioned Works

• Development of Nilambur Railway Station by constructing new platform and second entry.
• Complete track renewal between Nilambur and Melattur.

Other Demands

• Allowing more trains to Coimbatore side.
• More trains towards Trivandrum, Mangalore and Chennai

See also

• Indian Railways
• Nilambur
• Indian gauge

References

External links

• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nilambur-Mysore-Railway-Action-Council/126510197406713
• http://www.facebook.com/pages/Nilambur-Mysore-Railway-Action-Council/126510197406713#!/pages/Rajya-Rani-Express-to-Nilambur/312558575421722
• Palakkad Shoarnur Nilambur Train.
• More About Nilambur
• Official website of Southern Railways.
• Nilambur railway station on wiki mapia

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