A report by Jimmy Bose on IRFCA, and this is what he has to say-
In 1991, Cochin Harbour Terminus lost its most precious treasure, the Cochin<—>Madras Exp. This train was extended to Alleppey.
The station served as a base for the push-pull services of Kerala. Push-pull trains operated from Cochin to Guruvayur, Kottayam, Alleppey and Shoranur. These trains have been replaced by ordinary passengers and now terminate at Ernakulam.
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1996, Railways drew the electrification map for Kerala. Cochin was set to be a focal point for the electric locos. Even a loco shed was planned in the vast empty spaces adjoining the station. Alas, the Navy objected to the plan. Hence, the 6-kilometre line from Ernakulam to Cochin was not to be electrified. This meant that the electric trains would terminate at ERS rather than CHTS. A new coach maintenance facility was built at Ernakulam Marshalling Yard for this purpose. New sidings were also built.
The first train to be relocated from CHTS to ERS was the LTT<—>CHTS Netravati express. Raptisagar, Sabari, CHTS<—>HWH and all the other trains followed suit. The Tea Garden express clung on till 2001, when it was finally moved to ERS. Many of these trains have been extended from ERS to TVC. So they have altogether stopped operating from CHTS. Many freight trains too stopped coming to CHTS. Still, container, coal and ammonia traffic continue, giving some revenue to the line, not the station. These are now controlled separately and not under CHTS.
The Navy's permission finally was granted in 2002. By then most of the trains had ditched the station. The only trains operating were the SRR<—>CHTS pass and Tea Garden express. This time, surveys showed that the Venduruthy Bridge was not strong enough to support electrification. It was just too old. There was no point in building a new bridge just for the smattering of traffic.
The station is a shadow of its glorious past. The day I visited the station, the collection was just INR 8.00. The station master told me that even if the collection is nil, the collection box has to be sent to ERS. Nobody calls up the station to enquire about the collection. Many days, it is less than the phone charge of the call.
All the sidings, trip shed and coach repair shed have been engulfed by weeds. Poisonous snakes, rabbits, scorpions and even porcupines are the main inhabitants. It will take crores of rupees to clean up. The station building has not received a coat of paint for years. The clock is dead. None of the announcement systems function.
Yet the station is very clean, thanks to the station master, who simply thrashes out the urchins that come here. Beggars know better than to haunt the place. The station is cleaned every morning by the sweepers. Even perfumed lemon grass oil is used. This expense is met by the staff. A wheel chair is available for disabled persons travelling on the SRR passenger.