Top 5 Largest and Longest Railway Stations of Kerala
Kerala is always been the most popular tourist spots in south India, known for backwaters,natural beauty and wildlife. There are few unknow railway facts about the state such as longest railway bridge,second longest railway platform and one of the 5 most beautiful central railway stations of India.
Shoranur Junction Railway Station
Shoranur Junction Railway Station is the largest railway station in Kerala and one of the major junction in the state. Shoranur Junction has 7 platforms and the city is often referred as the gateway to Malabar. Platforms 1 and 2 mainly handles passenger trains originating from the station, while platforms 4,5,6 and 7 caters to long distance express trains. There is only a single terminal which is located towards the northern side of the station.
Kollam Junction Railway Station
Kollam Junction Railway Station is the second largest railway station in Kerala in terms of area and also has India’s second longest railway platform. The city of Kollam connected to major cities of India and the junction is listed as one of the oldest railway stations in Kerala. There are a total of 17 tracks in the Kollam railway station, 2 lines are passing through the MEMU shed. The station has 6 platforms for handling long distance, passenger, MEMU & goods trains.
The platform 1 is divided into two sections. Platform 1A handles the trains to Punalur-Sengottai line and platform 1 handles trains towards Trivandrum Central. The platform 1 and 1A together have a length of 1,180.5 m making them together the second longest railway platform in India. The station has a MEMU shed which is situated near to Platform 1A. An FCI godown owned and operated by Food Corporation of India is also situated near Kollam junction.
Kannur Railway Station
Kannur Railway Station of Kerala has the second longest railway platform in the state and selected for Google’s plan to deploy WiFi. The Kannur Railway Station serves Kannur City and Platform number 1 of Kannur station has one of the longest railway platform in India. There are many trains operating towards Southern Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Mumbai and North India. Kannur and Kannur South are two different stations which serves Kannur City.
Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station
Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station is one of the five central railway station of India and the largest railway station in Kerala in terms of passenger movement. Thiruvananthapuram Central connect the city to other major cities of India and an important rail hub in Southern Railway. Trains from here connect the city of Thiruvananthapuram to major cities of India. This station is also noted for a whole range of amenities available within the premises. The station has book-shops, restaurants, accommodation and Internet browsing centers.
Ernakulam Junction Railway Station
Ernakulam Junction Railway Station is a major railway junction station in Kerala, serves city of Kochi. The Junction is classified as A1 station by the Southern Railway zone and second largest in terms in passenger revenues in Kerala. The station has six platforms to handle long distance trains and local trains and two entrances (the Main entry and the Eastern entry). Its A1 classification is the highest a station can achieve on Indian Railways. It does have all amenities expected out of a major junction including a paid air-conditioned lounge with free WiFi, a library, rest room, children’s play areas etc. However, the station lacks the spread-out roominess and large built-up area of similarly large stations. Ernakulam Junction was the first railway station in Kerala to have an escalator. It was installed on 9 September 2013.
