Railways surprise for Malappuram; Venad Express likely to be extended to Nilambur

MALAPPURAM: Reports say the Indian Railways is considering the demand to extend Venda Express, which presently operates service from Thiruvananthapuram to Shornur, up to Nilambur. With this, it is expected to bring a significant relief to the travel hardships faced by the people in the hilly areas of Malappuram.

The train, which reaches Shoranur at 12 noon, stays there for three hours. The Venad Express departs for Thiruvananthapuram at 3 pm. The Railways is planning to utilise this interval to operate a service to Nilambur. Passengers have been facing difficulties due to limited train services on the Nilambur–Shoranur route between 10 am and 3 pm. If the Venad Express is extended to Nilambur, it would benefit students, employees and other commuters.

One of the major obstacles to extending the service is the lack of platform facilities capable of accommodating the Venad Express having 22 coaches. However, construction of a platform at Melattur station that can accommodate 24 coaches has been completed. The Railways expects the technical hurdles to be resolved once the crossing station is commissioned next month. Steps will also be taken to provide stops at Cherukara station for the Kottayam Express and the Nilambur–Shoranur MEMU.

A decision has also been taken to expand the waiting hall at Pattikkad station. The Railways will consider resuming the parcel service, which was discontinued earlier citing financial losses. Further steps will also be taken in response to passengers’ demand for a special train to ease overcrowding on the Rajya Rani Express.