Railway extends Kollam–Kottayam MEMU service to Ernakulam

On 30 October 2026, Railways issued an order extending the Kollam–Kottayam MEMU service to Ernakulam. The decision followed a petition by BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar to Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Revised timetable and stops

The train will leave Kollam at 1:30 p.m. and reach Ernakulam at about 5:05 p.m. It will depart Ernakulam at 5:25 p.m., reach Kottayam at around 6:45 p.m. and terminate at Kollam at about 9:25 p.m.

The extended service will stop at Ettumanoor, Kuruppanthara, Vaikom Road, Piravom Road, Kanjiramattom and Thrippunithura. Railways is expected to announce when the revised service will officially begin.

Important Facts for Exams

• Power supply: MEMU trains comprise multiple electric units and draw 25 kV AC power from overhead lines.
• Route category: MEMU services serve short- and medium-distance routes, while ordinary EMUs are described as connecting urban and suburban areas.
• Distributed traction: MEMU rakes place powered motor coaches at intervals through the formation, distributing traction instead of relying on one separate locomotive.
• Reversing operation: With driving cabs at both ends, a MEMU can reverse at a terminus without turning the train or shunting a locomotive around.