Nilambur–Shoranur line

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
Status	Operational
Owner	Indian Railways
Locale	Malappuram, Palakkad
Coordinates	11.2824°N 76.2511°E / 11.2824; 76.2511
Termini	Nilambur Road (NIL) Shoranur Junction (SRR)
Stations	11
Service
Type	Express train Passenger train
System	Southern Railway
Services	7
Operator(s)	Southern Railway zone
Rolling stock	WDM-3A, WDM-3D, WDG-3A, WDP-4D
History
Opened	1927; 98 years ago (1927)
Technical
Line length	66 km (41 mi)
Number of tracks	1
Character	single-line
Track gauge	1,676 mm (5 ft 6 in)
Electrification	Yes
Operating speed	75 km/h (47 mph)
Route map Legend km 0.0 Nilambur Road SH 39 Kuruvanpuzha River 10.6 Vaniyambalam 14.9 Thodiyappulam 19.2 Tuvvur 25.6 Melattur SH 39 32.8 Pattikkad SH 73 38.4 Angadipuram NH 966 SH 39 45.5 Cherukara Kunthi River Malappuram-Palakkad Border 52.1 Kulukkallur Pattambi–Cherpulassery Road  55.7 Vallapuzha 61.8 Vadanamkurishi SH 23 Shoranur–Mangalore section to Kozhikode Shoranur Junction Jolarpettai–Shoranur line to Palakkad Junction Shoranur–Cochin Harbour section to Thrissur This diagram: view talk edit

History

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

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 Kozhikode–Ooty 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	10.759524°N 76.272237°E / 10.759524; 76.272237
2	Vadanamkurishshi	VDKS	4.3	10.787665°N 76.252691°E / 10.787665; 76.252691
3	Vallapuzha	VPZ	10.4	10.840400°N 76.252420°E / 10.840400; 76.252420
4	Kulukkallur	KZC	14.0	10.868184°N 76.238656°E / 10.868184; 76.238656
5	Cherukara	CQA	20.6	10.93169°N 76.226357°E / 10.93169; 76.226357
6	Angadipuram	AAM	27.7	10.981228°N 76.207931°E / 10.981228; 76.207931
7	Pattikkad	PKQ	33.3	11.021027°N 76.232082°E / 11.021027; 76.232082
8	Melattur	MLTR	40.5	11.061734°N 76.271203°E / 11.061734; 76.271203
9	Tuvvur	TUV	46.9	11.120533°N 76.283178°E / 11.120533; 76.283178
10	Thodiyappulam	TDPM	51.2	11.153261°N 76.283178°E / 11.153261; 76.283178
11	Vaniyambalam	VNB	55.5	11.187487°N 76.268599°E / 11.187487; 76.268599
12	Nilambur Road	NIL	66.1	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

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.

As Melattur Traction substation is commissioned and electrification works are over, from January 1, 2025 electric locomotives replaced the diesel locomotives.

See also

• Edakkara town
• Angadippuram town