Ernakulam in brief
Ernakulam Junction (station code ERS), known to locals as Ernakulam South, is the main long-distance railway station of Kochi, Kerala's commercial capital. It comes under the Southern Railway zone's Thiruvananthapuram division and is graded NSG-2. In 2018–19 it handled about 25,587 passengers a day and earned about ₹158 crore, ranking third in Kerala.
The story of Ernakulam
Ernakulam's station history tracks Kerala's railway growth step by step:
- 1932: opens as Ernakulam South.
- 1946: rebuilt and converted to broad gauge as part of the Shoranur–Cochin Harbour Terminus line.
- 1956: a metre-gauge line to Kottayam opens, extended to Kollam in 1958.
- 1979: the Kottayam line is converted to broad gauge.
- 1989: the coastal line to Alappuzha opens.
- 2000: electrification.
- 9 September 2013: the first escalator at any railway station in Kerala is installed here.
Ernakulam Junction has been described as the first fully disabled-friendly railway station in India.
Redevelopment
A ₹299.9 crore renovation was approved in July 2022. Reconstruction work has faced delays over contract issues, so expect some changes to entrances and facilities while it continues.
Platforms and lines
Trains use 6 platforms on 10 tracks. Two routes meet here and run south towards Thiruvananthapuram:
- via Kottayam, the inland route
- via Alappuzha, the coastal route
Trains at Ernakulam
More than 20 long-distance services use Ernakulam Junction, including Vande Bharat Express trains within Kerala and Duronto services to Delhi and Mumbai, along with trains to Bengaluru, Chennai and across India. Kochi's Vande Bharat and Duronto departures are on our train schedule page.
Ernakulam's stations
| Station | Code | Local name |
|---|---|---|
| Ernakulam Junction | ERS | South station |
| Ernakulam Town | ERN | North station |
| Cochin Harbour Terminus | CHTS | Willingdon Island |
Reaching Ernakulam
- Kochi Metro Blue Line: Ernakulam South metro station.
- Vyttila Mobility Hub: Kochi's main bus and water-transport hub is a short ride away.
- Road: autos, taxis and app cabs.
South station pointers
- Many trains stop at both ERS and ERN, but some use only one; check your ticket.
- Fort Kochi and Mattancherry are best reached by road or by ferry from the Ernakulam boat jetty.