Trip Report- By the Superfast
Getting a ticket on Sunday in a train of my choice to reach office early seemed inviting when W/L showed 24-26 for 3 tickets while booking. But the invitation turned sour when the ticket slipped to RAC 140
Wee not a thought and after 3 days of relaxation, it was time to be back.. Beep beep of mobile was a slight shocker as ticket stood at RAC S4, 63 & 71*2.. Well after visiting the Hill top Palace at Tirupunithura reached ERS at 15:50hrs
ERS...
more...

welcomed us with a high humidity and higher levels of crowd.A MEMU rake and golden chariot adorned the siding platform between Pf-1 and PF-2. he handwritten boards at station indicated the platform as 1 and coach positiion as 7 from engine towards thrissur- bTW which is Thrissur end... We decided to wait with the swelling crowd and sweltering heatWalked till end to see ERS WDM-3A attached with Golden chariot and a Erode WAP4 waiting at the corner for incoming Kerala Express T
Platform 1 seems to be centre of activity though the station has about 5 platforms. Announcement was made for Kottayam-Ernakulam MEMU but in come a WAP4 with a conventional rake at 16:10hrs. Announcement came out simultaneously for the 16305 Allepey-Kannur to arrive on PF-2 and 16605 Ernad Express on Pf-4.. Arrival of the Kannur express showed us the direction we were to proceed as it came in at 16:15hrs but in the meantime, dad had gone for a walk did not notice the rake
The pass rake was cleared from platform in minutes and announcement went for the 2nd longest daily of the country to arrive on Pf-1. At 16:30hrs, 12625 Kerala Express from TVC to NDLS arrived in just as Dad too came and pointed to me in opposite direction as Thrissur end. I stopped him and said- Dad this is Kerala Express"- It suddenly flashed to him about journey taken by Kerala from Chengannur 3 years back to catch the 12683 from ERS and said- Oh right right- this comes from KTYM side and reverses. in the meantime the incoming WAP4 detached and went away as the waiting WAP4 atatched at the other end.The Kannur Express too left, 20% of platform was empty by now
12625 cleared platform at 16:42hrs and we moved towards our coach posistion just to find a ERS WDS-6 coming in from the KTYM direction with our rake. slowly made way inside and stopped right in front of coach position marked board at 16:50hrs. Kept luggage inside and helped my parents and myself with cup of tea the berth 72, 63 co-pass and 64 passenger not arrived. Chart wasnt pasted and train gave a old look despite being a 2002 year bogie. in the meantime, the Shatabdi of the route 12677 Bangalore-Ernakulam Day Express came in on Pf-4
i stood on platform and dad too joined in as the announcement went for the incoming 16301 Venad Express on Pf-3 and 22640 Chennai Express on PF-1. I got in the train seeing signal turn amber but dad stayed back- Looked at him and said- "come on".. Dad replied with smile "See properly".. Only the caution order of starter was given but advanced starter was still in the danger light (red).. 45 seconds later starter and advanced starter turned green and Loco gave a loud hear piercing horn as we pulled out at 17:12hrs
i came to opposite side just to spot the WAP4 entering with the Venad Express as mom called out " coem to left 1st".. Startled came just in time to see the KSRTC (KA) premium services (Volvo, volvo multi axle, Rajahamsa & Scania Multi axle) parked next to the KSRTC (KE) facing the tracks. Next in line was KSRTC ordinary services connecting the various Kerala towns.
Slowly crossed all points and blasted on main line as i stayed to the opposite track.. Very soon spotted WAP4 on the mainline of ERN with tthe Trivandrum bound jan shatabdi while the loop had the 12515 Guwahati Express with wAP4 awaiting a merciless overtake by 22607.
We proceeded to halt at Aluwa where people (UR passengers) waiting for the Chennai Superfast tried to come in.. but after informing that the next offical stop was Trichur, majority of them stayed back. Proceeded after 2 minute halt the train still sparsely crowded. Many passengers not boarded. A good look past the Cochin Airport and we proceeded at MPS for 20 minutes till a danger light cam eup at Chalakkudi outer turning amber within seconds but next danger at Chalakkudi ensured an unofficial stop on platform while all Chennai passengers looked up
Trainenquiry revealed the reason. The Kannur Express was held up enroute and Kerala Express had taken the lead and Kannur was just 4 kms ahead of us. so we had a long halt and later proceeded well till Ollur where we had to overtake a freight on the mainline corteousy the kannur Express halt on the loop . We got a danger again at Thrissur outer at 6:25PM as the Kannur, Guruvayur Express (16127 rake) and a passenger occupied the platforms. We slowly proceeded to halt in at 1830hrs and left after a 2 minute halt, the train quite full now
It was a blistering run now with no train ahead. Trunk line was utilized and WAP4 accelerated past 100.. Went past Wadakkanchery at blasting speed only for LP to slow down 2 mins later as speed came to 70 with continous honking.... Very continous... Warning honk.. Corteousy a village fair going on close and all people standing close to Railway tracks at the next 2 kms.. Without any fatalties we went past well and picke dup MPS only to reduce 10 mins later at the Bharatapuzha river with 15 kmph PSR.
The run was fine with a crossing of the chugging Kannur pass from Coimbatore as we reached Palghat at 20:05hrs onto PF-2 with highly crowded platform.. People came running towards our train went back seeing the board it was not the Guwahati bound train... Reason for high crowd became clear as we were the elader among the followers.. 12602 Mail, 12515 guwahati and 22640 Chennai Express.
Got down from the train to get some dinner. Chappati and Parotta were selling like hot cakes so got 3 packets amounting to Rs.100/-. Handed over to mom and had a stroll to get some buttermilk along with dad repeatedly reminding to check back as the traffic was high.. Crossed the 1st stall with no luck and as we were about to proceeed further the red turned green.. Green starter, double green advanced starter.. Sprinted across into coach S6 just in time as train started pulling out and made way through vestibule to S4 just to find mom giving a relaxed look- Asked her "Werent you tensed"?? She replied" Who else will know in and out of trains than you people- i knew that as soon as starter was given you would have boarded the nearest coach without taking slighetest risk"" Good confidence!!!!
Past Palghat, we passed through the only direct pass available in Western ghats- The Walayar pass.. Walayar station gave a signal to enter the pass in middle of mighty mountains maintaining 70kmph.. Regular boards were crossed citing 30kmph limit with elephant signs has this section has become notorious for train-elephant conflict
Crossing through the mighty mountains, arrived Podanur at 21:05hrs as the crowd boarded our train making it 100% occupied. all RAC co-passengers had arrived and it was time to wind up the day... Departed Podanur and came to a halt outside Irugur and trainenquiry revealed the culprit- 12625 that left 30 mins earlier went into CBE and had crossed Peelamdeu 5 mins back.. So it meant we could get back on heels once Kerala enters back the bye-pass...
As train pulle dout, the TTE came with vacant berth allocation.. Dad got a MB in 26 and a 71 got a SLB. i opted for MB and went and put up the berth at 2115 hrs.... And unexpectedly next I remember is 4:10AM leaving Bangalore Cantt station and getting allocated PF-1 of SBC through direct clearance :)
Well that was an abrupt ending but what to do.. Loooong sleep..... :)
Thanks for reading