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[1] 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.[1] It was laid by the British in the colonial era for the transportation of Nilambur Teak logs to the United Kingdom through Kozhikode.[1] 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.[2]

Nilambur-Shoranur line
Nilambur–Shoranur line passes through Angadipuram railway station
Overview
StatusOperational
OwnerIndian Railways
LocaleMalappuram, Palakkad
Coordinates11°16′57″N 76°15′04″E / 11.2824°N 76.2511°E / 11.2824; 76.2511
Termini
Stations11
Service
TypeExpress train
Passenger train
SystemSouthern Railway
Services7
Operator(s)Southern Railway zone
Rolling stockWDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A, WDP-4D
History
Opened1927; 97 years ago (1927)
Technical
Line length66 km (41 mi)
Number of tracks1
Charactersingle-line
Track gauge1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
ElectrificationYes
Operating speed75 km/h (47 mph)
Route map

km
0.0
Nilambur Road Bus interchangeParking
10.6
Vaniyambalam
14.9
Thodiyappulam
19.2
Tuvvur
25.6
Melattur
32.8
Pattikkad
38.4
Angadipuram Parking
45.5
Cherukara
52.1
Kulukkallur
55.7
Vallapuzha
61.8
Vadanamkurishi
Shoranur Junction Bus interchangeParking

History

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Nilambur-Shoranur line passes through woods

In 1840, the British created a teak plantation in Nilambur to ensure a steady supply of timber for their various needs.[3] In 1923, the South Indian Railway Company, which operated the Madras–Shoranur–Mangalore line, was contracted by the Madras Presidency to build a railway from Nilambur to Shoranur to ensure easy transportation of timber from these forests to the plains and hence to ports and onward transportation. The company completed the line in stages. The Shoranur–Angadippuram section was opened on 3 February 1927, Angadippuram–Vaniyambalam on 3 August 1927 and the entire stretch from Shoranur to Nilambur was opened on 26 October 1927. During World War II, the Shoranur line, along with other numerous railway lines across British India were dismantled and rolling stock diverted to the Middle East to help British war efforts. The line ceased to exist in 1941. After independence, following public pressure, the railway line was reconstructed by the Indian Railways along its original alignment. The Shornur -Angadipuram line re-opened in 1953[4] and Angadipuram–Nilambur in 1954.[5] The teak plantation still stands today as a major tourist attraction.

Geography

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The Shoranur–Nilambur line starts from Shoranur Junction and terminates at Nilambur Road railway station, located at a distance of four kilometers from Nilambur town on the KozhikodeOoty highway,[1] 40 kilometres (25 mi) from the district headquarters of Malappuram town.[6] The line passes through the eastern part of the Malappuram district. It 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.

No. Station name[7] Station code[7] Distance (km) Coordinates
1 Shoranur Junction SRR 0 10°45′34″N 76°16′20″E / 10.759524°N 76.272237°E / 10.759524; 76.272237
2 Vadanamkurishshi VDKS 4.3 10°47′16″N 76°15′10″E / 10.787665°N 76.252691°E / 10.787665; 76.252691
3 Vallapuzha VPZ 10.4 10°50′25″N 76°15′09″E / 10.840400°N 76.252420°E / 10.840400; 76.252420
4 Kulukkallur KZC 14.0 10°52′05″N 76°14′19″E / 10.868184°N 76.238656°E / 10.868184; 76.238656
5 Cherukara CQA 20.6 10°55′54″N 76°13′35″E / 10.93169°N 76.226357°E / 10.93169; 76.226357
6 Angadipuram AAM 27.7 10°58′52″N 76°12′29″E / 10.981228°N 76.207931°E / 10.981228; 76.207931
7 Pattikkad PKQ 33.3 11°01′16″N 76°13′55″E / 11.021027°N 76.232082°E / 11.021027; 76.232082
8 Melattur MLTR 40.5 11°03′42″N 76°16′16″E / 11.061734°N 76.271203°E / 11.061734; 76.271203
9 Tuvvur TUV 46.9 11°07′14″N 76°16′59″E / 11.120533°N 76.283178°E / 11.120533; 76.283178
10 Thodiyappulam TDPM 51.2 11°09′12″N 76°16′59″E / 11.153261°N 76.283178°E / 11.153261; 76.283178
11 Vaniyambalam VNB 55.5 11°11′15″N 76°16′07″E / 11.187487°N 76.268599°E / 11.187487; 76.268599
12 Nilambur Road NIL 66.1 11°16′57″N 76°15′04″E / 11.282541°N 76.251147°E / 11.282541; 76.251147

Railway stations on the Shoranur–Nilambur Road line are supported by small buildings and the platforms are low and short, located among thick vegetation that reaches close to the track throughout the stretch.[citation needed] Teak and banyan trees are common, with overhanging roots of banyan trees present on many station platforms, with the tree canopy completely covering many stations. The Nilambur Road railway station itself offers a views against the backdrop of the Western Ghats.[8]

Operations

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Services on the Shoranur–Nilambur Road line consist of five pairs of passenger trains and two express trains, all running daily. Four of the passenger trains run between Shoranur and Nilambur, while one pair runs to Nilambur from Palakkad. Two express trains, the 16349/16350 Kochuveli–Nilambur Road Rajya Rani Express and the 16325/16326 Nilambur-Kottayam Express are currently running. Locomotives used on the line are the WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A and WDP-4D from the Diesel Loco Shed, Ernakulam; Diesel Loco Shed, Erode and Diesel Loco Shed, Golden Rock. Electric locomotives will be replacing them soon as electrification is completed.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "The Nilambur news". Kerala Tourism. Archived from the original on 20 September 2016. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  2. ^ "Electrification of Shoranur-Nilambur rail line completed". The Hindu. Retrieved 30 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Nilambur Teak Plantations, Malappuram". Kerala Tourism. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
  4. ^ "Railway Budget speech 1954–55" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Government of India, Ministry of Railways. 19 February 1954.
  5. ^ "Railway Budget speech 1955_56" (PDF). www.indianrailways.gov.in. Government of India, Ministry of Railways. 22 February 1955.
  6. ^ "The official website of Malappuram district". Government of Kerala. Archived from the original on 4 February 2012. Retrieved 26 April 2010.
  7. ^ a b "56614/Nilambur Road - Shoranur Passenger (UnReserved) - Nilambur Road to Shoranur SR/Southern Zone - Railway Enquiry".
  8. ^ മണ്ണാർമല, ഉണ്ണി സി (9 November 2017). "തണൽ പാളങ്ങൾ | Madhyamam". www.madhyamam.com (in Malayalam). Retrieved 13 April 2023.
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