Harbour terminus-Ernakulam trip for Rs 10

Kochi: It will cost Rs 10 for a 20-minute ride in a Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) to commute the eight-km stretch from Ernakulam South to Harbour Terminus railway station once passenger rail traffic is restored in the section by mid-April, after a gap of nearly a decade. “The basic fares and routes have been worked out. Initially two services will be held between ERS (Ernakulam South) and CHTS (Cochin Depot) in the morning and evening peak hour. The fare will be Rs 10 for the section,” a senior railway officer said.

The services will be extended to Angamaly subsequently, replacing the present MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) services at 8.05 am and 3.10 pm from Ernakulam South. “Besides the office goers, we expect tourists to travel in the section. Mattancherry Halt station will be another main station in the section,” the officer said. However, only trains with diesel engines can be operated on the Ernakulam-Harbour Terminus route since the Navy has opposed electrification of the corridor, citing proximity of naval airport at Vathuruthy.

“We’re yet to get confirmation regarding allotment of a DEMU rake to operate the services. We’ve asked the Chennai Headquarters to allot the same,” the officer said. The trial using a diesel locomotive was successfully held on Thursday, however, the renovation work of the Harbour Terminus station is delayed. Though the services were originally planned to start by April one, the officials are now expecting a delay of over two weeks.

“The station building, including construction of platforms that can accommodate upto 18 coaches are currently in progress,” he said. Rail connectivity to Willingdon Island was affected after two dredgers deployed by the Cochin Port Trust hit the pillars of Venduruthy bridge, built in the 1930s. Subsequently, new rail and road bridges were built parallel to the two old bridges. Passenger train service to Harbour Terminus was stopped after a dredger again hit the Venduruthy bridge in 2004, weakening it. A new railway bridge was constructed after that and the railway track replaced in the entire line.