Guruvayur–Thrissur spur line

Guruvayur–Thrissur section is a spur line functioning under Trivandrum railway division of Southern Railway zone. This is a single broad-gauge line which begins at Thrissur city and ends at Guruvayur in Thrissur district of Kerala. The 23 kilometres (14 mi) section was opened for traffic in the year 1994. The line connects the Cultural Capital of Kerala, Thrissur to the Temple Town of Kerala, Guruvayur, the fourth biggest temple in India in terms of the number of devotees per day.^[1][2][3]

Guruvayur–Thrissur spur line
View of Thrissur railway station
Overview
Status	Operational
Owner	Southern Railway zone
Locale	Thrissur district
Termini	Thrissur Guruvayur
Stations	2
Website	http://www.sr.indianrailways.gov.in/
Service
Type	Regional rail
System	Electrified
Services	3
Operator(s)	Thiruvananthapuram railway division
Depot(s)	Thrissur
Rolling stock	WAP-4, WAP-7, WAG-5
History
Opened	9 January 1994; 30 years ago (1994-01-09)
Technical
Line length	23 kilometres (14 mi)
Track length	90 km
Number of tracks	1
Character	single-line
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Fully
Operating speed	90 km/h (56 mph)
Route map Legend km 0 Guruvayur SH 49 Aloor River Puvathur Canal SH 69 15 Amala Nagar Puzhakkal River Thanikkudam River to Shoranur Junction SH 69 21 Punkunnam Kottapuram overpass Azhekoddan Road 23 Thrissur to Ernakulam Junction

History

In 1983, Kamalapati Tripathi, then Minister of Railways (India) announced the construction of Thrissur–Guruvayur–Kuttippuram section. But following stiff opposition from the local people, Kuttipuram was dropped. On 19 January 1985 Indian Railways officially notifies Guruvayur–Tanur line for construction as temple town is a notified pilgrimage area. Rajiv Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India in 1987 inaugurated the first alignment line of Guruvayur–Tanur section.

On 9 January 1994 the first phase of the Thrissur–Guruvayur section was inaugurated by Prime Minister of India, Narasimha Rao. On 17 December 1995, Suresh Kalmadi and then Chief Minister of Kerala Kannoth Karunakaran inaugurated the work for the Guruvayur–Kuttipuram line. But later Kuttipuram was dropped once more and Indian Railways in 1997 give the green signal for Guruvayur–Tanur line. 51.25 km Guruvayur–Tanur railway line survey report was submitted to Indian Railways in July 1998. The project was sanctioned in 1999. The final surveys were done for the Guruvayur–Tanur railway line in January 2003, which will cover 51 km. In October 2009, Guruvayur–Tirunavaya alignment was chosen by Indian Railways.^[2][4][5]

Commemorative plaque of Kuttipuram–Guruvayoor section in Guruvayoor railway station

References

1. "Hunger strike for Tanur–Guruvayur railway line". The Hindu. Chennai. 9 November 2006. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
2. "Guruvayur–Tanur rail line project in limbo". The Hindu. Chennai. 24 June 2006. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
3. "Guruvayoor Temple". Pilgrimage India. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
4. "Guruvayur–Tirunavaya rail line soon: Ahamed". The Hindu. Chennai. 24 June 2006. Archived from the original on 8 November 2012. Retrieved 30 October 2010.
5. "Guruvayur–Kuttipuram railway line turns 17". Thrissur: Mangalam. 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 16 February 2013. Retrieved 28 January 2013.