The 60 + KMs section between Kottayam and Ernakulam is highly neglected area in terms of providing halt for trains other than passenger trains. Even initially when the halts for Palaruvi express was announced no station between Kottayam and Ernakulam was considered for a halt. Luckily due to passenger movement now Palaruvi express has halts in this section.
Other than the major town in the district, railways usually provide halt for express/SF trains at the stations near to other municipalities in the district. While all the municipalities across the state...
more... like Neyyattinkara, Varkala, Paravur, Karunagappally, Kayamkulam, Mavelikkara, Chengannur, Harippad, Cherthala, Changanacherry, Aluva, Angamaly, Chalakkudy, Irinjalakuda, Vadakkancherry, Shornur, Ottappalam, Pattambi, Tirur, Thanoor, Parappanangadi, Faroke, Koyilandy, Payyoli, Vadakara, Thalassery, Payyannur, Neeleswaram, Kanhangad etc. gets this consideration only stations in municipalities between Kottayam and Ernakulam are being neglected in granting halt for sufficient long distance trains.
The distance between Kottayam and Kayamkulam Jn is 55 KM. How it would be if long distant trains are not provided halt at Changanasseri, Thiruvalla, Chengannur, Mavelikkara etc. Similarly the distance between Ernakulam and Thrissur is 70+ KMs. How it would be if long distant trains are not provided halt at In between stations like Idappally, Aluva, Angamaly, Chalakudy, Irinjalakuda etc. But people between Kottayam and Ernakulam are unlucky to have this privilege. They are being forced by the railways to travel to Kottayam and Ernakulam to board long distant trains.
Vaikam road station is sharing it’s border with SH15 Ernakulam Ettumanur highway and SH 40 Alappuzha Madura highway which makes this station easily by road and by public transport at any time of the day. Another SH Kumarakom Cumbom highway is passing very close to it. Also it is almost equidistant to both Kottayam and Ernakulam. Hence railways should consider providing halt for more long distant trains at Vaikom road station as in the case of Cherthala in costal line. This makes more relevant when stations coming even under panchayath areas like Parassala, Dhanuvechupuram, Murukkumpuzha, Chirayinkeezhu, Kadakkavur, Mayyanad, Manrothuruth, Sasthamkotta, Ochira, Cheriyanad, Ambalapuzha, Mararikkulam, Thuravur, Mulanthuruthy, Pudukkad, Vallikkunnu, Valapattanam, Kannapuram, Pazhayangadi, Ezhimala, Thrikkarippur, Cheruvathoor, Bekkal, Kumbala, Uppala, Manjeswaram etc are provided halt for long distance trains.