Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station: Difference between revisions

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{{Short description|Railway station in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India}}
{{Short description|Railway station in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India}}
{{redirect|TVC Station|other stations|TVC (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|TVC Station|other stations|TVC (disambiguation)}}
{{Copy edit|date=December 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use Indian English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox station
{{Infobox station
| name = Thiruvananthapuram Central
| name               = Thiruvananthapuram Central  
| native_name =
| type               = [[File:Indian_Railways_Suburban_Railway_Logo.svg|20px]] [[Indian Railways]] station
| native_name_lang = ml
| other_name         = Thambanoor Railway Station
| type = [[File:Indian_Railways_Suburban_Railway_Logo.svg|20px]] [[Indian Railways]] station
| style             = Indian Railways
| other_name = Thampanoor/ Trivandrum Central
| image             = Trivandrum Central.jpg
| style = Indian Railways
| image_size         =  
| image = Trivandrum Central.jpg
| image_caption     = Thiruvananthapuram Central main building.
| image_size =  
| address           = [[Thampanoor]], [[Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala]],
| image_caption = Thiruvananthapuram Central station's main building.
| country           = [[India]] [[🇮🇳]]
| address = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]]
| coordinates       = {{coord|8.4874|N|76.952|E|type:railwaystation_region:IN-KL|display=inline,title}}
| country = India
| elevation         = {{convert|6.740|m|ft}}
| coordinates = {{coord|8.4874|N|76.952|E|type:railwaystation_region:IN-KL|display=inline,title}}
| line               = [[Kollam–Thiruvananthapuram trunk line]]<br />[[Thiruvananthapuram–Nagercoil–Kanyakumari line]]
| elevation = {{convert|6.740|m|ft}}
| other             = {{rint|bus}} {{rint|air}} {{rint|ferry}}, taxi stand, pre-paid auto service
| line = [[Kollam–Thiruvananthapuram trunk line]]<br />[[Thiruvananthapuram–Nagercoil–Kanyakumari line]]
| structure         = Standard (on ground station)
| other = {{rint|bus}} {{rint|air}} {{rint|ferry}}, Taxi stand, Pre-paid Auto service.
| platform           = 5
| structure = Standard (on ground station)
| tracks             = 16
| platform = 5
| parking           = Available
| tracks = 16
| opened             = {{start date and age|df=yes|1931|11|4}}
| parking = Available
| closed             = 1940
| opened = {{start date and age|df=yes|1931|11|4}}
| rebuilt           = 1955, 2025 (Planned)
| closed =  
| electrified       = Yes (since 2005 December)
| rebuilt =  
| accessible        = {{Access icon|20px}}
| electrified = Yes
| code               = {{Indian railway code
| ADA = {{Access icon|20px}}
| code = {{Indian railway code
   | code = TVC
   | code = TVC
   | zone = [[Southern Railway zone]]
   | zone = [[Southern Railway zone]]
   | division = {{rwd|Thiruvananthapuram}}
   | division = {{rwd|Thiruvananthapuram}}
   }}
   }}
| owned = [[Indian Railways]]
| owned             = [[Indian Railways]]
| operator = [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railways]]
| operator           = [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railways]] [[Thiruvananthapuram Division]]
| status = Functioning
| status             = Functioning
| former =  
| former             = Travancore Central
| passengers = 40,908 per day
| passengers         = 40,908 per day
<br>Annual passengers – 1,42,92,407<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cr.indianrailways.gov.in/redevelopment_view_details_r.jsp?ID1=Tiruvananthapuram%20central |title=Station Re-development Data – Trivandrum Central(TVC) |publisher=Central Railway Zone – Indian Railways |access-date=1 February 2016}}</ref>
&lt;br&gt;Annual passengers – 14,292,407&lt;ref&gt;{{cite web|url=http://www.cr.indianrailways.gov.in/redevelopment_view_details_r.jsp?ID1=Tiruvananthapuram%20central |title=Station Re-development Data – Trivandrum Central(TVC) |publisher=Central Railway Zone – Indian Railways |access-date=1 February 2016}}&lt;/ref&gt;
| pass_year = 2017–19
| pass_year         = 2017–19
| pass_rank = 1 ''(in [[Kerala]])''<br /> 1 ''(in [[Thiruvananthapuram railway division]])''
| pass_rank         = 1 (in [[Kerala]])&lt;br /&gt; 1 (in [[Thiruvananthapuram railway division]])
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe           = yes
| mapframe-caption = Interactive map
| mapframe-caption   = Interactive map
| mapframe-custom = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|frame-height=180|zoom=12|type=point|marker=rail}}
| mapframe-custom   = {{Maplink|frame=yes|plain=yes|frame-align=center|frame-width=300|frame-height=180|zoom=12|type=point|marker=rail}}
| pass_percent =  
| pass_percent       =  
| pass_system =  
| pass_system       =  
| map_type = India Kerala#India
| map_type           = India Kerala#India
| embedded =  
| embedded           =  
}}
}}
{{Railway in Kerala cities}}
{{Railway in Kerala cities}}


'''Thiruvananthapuram Central''', formerly '''Trivandrum Central''' (also known as '''Thampanoor railway station''') (station code: '''TVC'''), is a major [[railway station]] that serves the city of [[Thiruvananthapuram]] (formerly Trivandrum), capital of [[Kerala]] state, [[India]]. It is the busiest railway station in Kerala and an important rail hub in [[Southern Railway zone|Southern Railway]]. The building of the railway station is one of the iconic landmarks of Thiruvananthapuram. The station is located at the heart of the city opposite [[Central bus station Thiruvananthapuram]] at [[Thampanoor]]. [[Thiruvananthapuram Pettah rail
'''Thiruvananthapuram Central''' (station code: TVC,&lt;ref name="stn_code"&gt;{{cite web |title=Station Code Index |url=https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/coaching/TAG_2023-24/Station_Code_Index.pdf |website=Portal of Indian Railways |publisher=Centre For Railway Information Systems |access-date=25 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240216225807/https://indianrailways.gov.in/railwayboard/uploads/directorate/coaching/TAG_2023-24/Station_Code_Index.pdf |archive-date=16 February 2024 |page=8 |date=2023–24}}&lt;/ref&gt;) is an NSG–2 category [[List of railway stations in India|railway station]] in [[Thiruvananthapuram railway division]] of [[Southern Railway zone]].&lt;ref name="sr_stn"&gt;{{cite web |title=SOUTHERN RAILWAY LIST OF STATIONS AS ON 01.04.2023 (CATEGORY- WISE) |url=https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1686913242750-SR%20-LIST%20OF%20STATIONS-2023.pdf |website=Portal of Indian Railways |publisher=Centre For Railway Information Systems |access-date=25 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240323095403/https://sr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris//uploads/files/1686913242750-SR%20-LIST%20OF%20STATIONS-2023.pdf |archive-date=23 March 2024 |page=1 |date=1 April 2023}}&lt;/ref&gt; It is a major [[railway station]] that serves the city of [[Thiruvananthapuram]], the capital of [[Kerala]]. It is Kerala's busiest railway station. The station building, a landmark of the city, is located in [[Thampanoor]] opposite the [[Central bus station Thiruvananthapuram|central bus stand]]. Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station is the highest profit earning railway station in Kerala and the most crowded and busiest railway station in Kerala. Most high priority and superfast express trains originate from here like TVC Rajdhani Express.
way station|Thiruvananthapuram. Most of the long-distance trains depart from here. Thiruvananthapuram is the first tier 2 city from the south along the longest train routes in India, the [[Kanyakumari]]–[[Thiruvananthapuram]]–[[Dibrugarh]] [[Vivek Express]] route and the Kanyakumari–Thiruvananthapuram–[[Jammu Tawi]]–[[Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra]] [[Himsagar Express]] route. A second terminal (South Terminal) was opened in 2004 to handle passenger traffic and later a West Terminal in 2007. To reduce traffic, the [[Thiruvananthapuram Central]] railway station has 16 railway tracks<ref>{{cite news |title=Revised parking rates at railway stations come into effect|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|location=Thiruvananthapuram|publisher=Express Publications|date=2 July 2012|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article556170.ece|access-date=25 November 2012}}</ref>
 
A number of long-distance trains depart from Thiruvananthapuram Central. Thiruvananthapuram is the first [[Classification of Indian cities#Current classification|tier-2 city]] in the south along India's longest train routes: the [[Kanyakumari]]–[[Thiruvananthapuram]]–[[Dibrugarh]] [[Vivek Express]] route and the Kanyakumari–Thiruvananthapuram–[[Jammu Tawi]]–[[Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra]] [[Himsagar Express]] route. A second terminal (the South Terminal) was opened in 2004 to handle passenger traffic, and the West Terminal opened in 2007. To reduce congestion, the station has 16 tracks.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite news |title=Revised parking rates at railway stations come into effect|work=[[The New Indian Express]]|location=Thiruvananthapuram|publisher=Express Publications|date=2 July 2012|url=http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article556170.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130611065228/http://newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article556170.ece|url-status=dead|archive-date=11 June 2013|access-date=25 November 2012}}&lt;/ref&gt;


== History ==
== History ==
The Madras–Quilon line was extended to the capital of the Princely State of [[Travancore]], Thiruvananthapuram, and was opened on 4 January 1918. The line then terminated at Chackai, which was the trading centre of Thiruvananthapuram then. M. E. Watts, Dewan of the erstwhile Travancore, took the initiative to extend the railway line to the heart of the city. The terminus was shifted to its current location Thiruvananthapuram Central [[Thampanoor]] in 1931. The Thiruvananthapuram Central station building was built during the reign of [[Sethu Lakshmi Bayi]], the Maharani of [[Travancore]], and inaugurated on the 4 November 1931. No bricks were used for the construction of this station building; it was built completely with rock masonry.<ref>[http://www.irfca.org/articles/jimmyjose-20051128-quilon.html Quilon – Thiruvananthapuram Central Metre Gauge Line]. Irfca.org. Retrieved on 2011-11-10.</ref> [[Thiruvananthapuram]] was a branch line station but the Maharani built it at par with their counterparts in the major cities of India. The station was built to handle two departures per day in 1931 and had only one platform in the beginning. The platform with a single line continued till the 70s. The extended platform continued to receive and send trains as a metre-gauge line until gauge conversion. The platform could accommodate two trains at a time in that single-line platform.
The Madras–Quilon line was extended to Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the [[princely state]] of [[Travancore]], and was opened on 4 January 1918. The line terminated at Chackai, the trading centre of Thiruvananthapuram. M. E. Watts, [[dewan]] of Travancore, extended the rail line to the heart of the city. The terminus was moved to its present location at Thiruvananthapuram Central in 1931. The station was built during the reign of [[Sethu Lakshmi Bayi]], the [[Maharaja|maharani]] of Travancore, and was inaugurated on 4 November 1931. No bricks were used for the station's construction; it was built with rock masonry.&lt;ref&gt;[http://www.irfca.org/articles/jimmyjose-20051128-quilon.html Quilon – Thiruvananthapuram Central Metre Gauge Line]. Irfca.org. Retrieved on 2011-11-10.&lt;/ref&gt; Thiruvananthapuram was a branch-line station, but the maharani built it on a par with its counterparts in India's major cities. The station was built to handle two departures per day in 1931, and had one platform. The single-line platform continued until the 1970s; the extended platform accommodated trains as a metre-gauge line until the gauge conversion. The platform could accommodate two trains at a time.


==Layout==
==Layout==
This station has 5 platforms to handle long and short-distance trains. The Thiruvananthapuram railway station has two entrances. The main entrance is opposite [[Central bus station Thiruvananthapuram]] and the western entrance is on Power House road. The train care centre functions adjacent to the western side entrance. [[Nemom]] and {{stnlnk|Kochuveli}} railway stations are announced in the railway budget as satellite terminals to Thiruvananthapuram Central. Kochuveli satellite terminal has started functioning with trains originating from here. There is a proposal to add two more platforms once Nemom and Kochuveli stations are operational with terminal facilities.
The station has five platforms to handle long and short-distance trains, and two entrances. The main entrance is opposite the central bus station, and the west entrance is on Power House Road. The train-care centre is adjacent to this entrance. The [[Nemom]] and {{stnlnk|Kochuveli}} stations were announced in the railway budget as satellite terminals of Thiruvananthapuram Central. The Kochuveli satellite terminal has begun operation with trains originating from Thiruvananthapuram Central.


==Amenities==
=={{anchor|Amenities}}Security==
Thiruvananthapuram Central is well equipped with modern security gadgets, and is the first station in the state to install video surveillance. The ''Networked electronic surveillance system'' is installed in this Central Station by [[Railway Protection Force]] (RPF) for improving the security and for monitoring the movement of passengers arriving at the station.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071017111638/http://hindu.com/2006/08/24/stories/2006082423560300.htm Video surveillance system at Central]. Hindu.com (2006-08-24). Retrieved on 2011-11-10.</ref>
Thiruvananthapuram Central was Kerala's first station to install video surveillance. A networked electronic surveillance system was installed by the [[Railway Protection Force]] (RPF) to improve security and monitor passengers arriving at the station.&lt;ref&gt;[https://web.archive.org/web/20071017111638/http://hindu.com/2006/08/24/stories/2006082423560300.htm Video surveillance system at Central]. Hindu.com (2006-08-24). Retrieved on 2011-11-10.&lt;/ref&gt;


== Future ==
== {{anchor|Future}}Future plans ==
It was announced in the railway budget to convert Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station to world-class standards. The foundation stone for the expansion and modernization of the station was laid by former Union Minister for Railways, Lalu Prasad in December 2006. Tenders have been invited for carrying out feasibility studies for this proposed project. More than {{INRConvert|1000|m|abbr=on}} is needed for the first phase of this project.<ref>{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20080506050238/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/11/08/stories/2006110811100100.htm Rs.100 crores for modernization]}}. Hinduonnet.com (2006-11-08). Retrieved on 2011-11-10.</ref> A new complex of the railway station will be built with a built-up area of {{convert|1000000|sqft|m2}}. All modern facilities including an office and commercial complex are planned here. The proposal to set up a passenger terminal at [[Nemom]] is announced in the rail budget and is yet to begin work. It is estimated that only a consortium would be able to take up the expansion project of Thiruvananthapuram Central, since the project is a massive one.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930231742/http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/07/stories/2007030712450500.htm Trivandrum Central to be made a world-class station]. Hindu.com (2007-03-07). Retrieved on 2011-11-10.</ref> Feasibility study for Chennai–Bangalore–Thiruvananthapuram high-speed rail corridor ongoing and is being planned along with other few corridors in the country.
The conversion of Thiruvananthapuram Central to world-class standards was announced in the railway budget. Former Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad laid the foundation stone for the station's expansion and modernization in December 2006. Tenders were invited for feasibility studies for the project. More than {{INRConvert|1|b|abbr=on}} was needed for the first phase of this project.&lt;ref&gt;{{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20080506050238/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2006/11/08/stories/2006110811100100.htm Rs.100 crores for modernization]}}. Hinduonnet.com (2006-11-08). Retrieved on 2011-11-10.&lt;/ref&gt; A new complex will be built, covering {{convert|1000000|sqft|m2}}, and modern facilities (including an office and commercial complex) are planned. A proposed passenger terminal at [[Nemom]] was announced in the rail budget, but work has not yet begun. It is estimated that a consortium would be needed for the Thiruvananthapuram Central expansion, due to the size of the project.&lt;ref&gt;[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930231742/http://www.hindu.com/2007/03/07/stories/2007030712450500.htm Trivandrum Central to be made a world-class station]. Hindu.com (2007-03-07). Retrieved on 2011-11-10.&lt;/ref&gt;.Nemom Terminus Project Construction Started just in this year


== Landmark train services ==
== {{anchor|Landmark train services}}Major trains ==
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2018}}
{{Unreferenced section|date=July 2018}}
Landmark train services that originates or terminates from {{stnlnk|Thiruvananthapuram Central}} are:


{| class="wikitable non sortable" style="width:870px;"
{| class="wikitable non sortable" style="width:870px;"
|+
|+Popular trains originating or terminating at Thiruvananthapuram Central
|-
|-
!! style="background:lightskyblue;" | Train no
!! style="background:lightskyblue;" | Train no
Line 79: Line 76:
|-
|-
|12431 / 12432
|12431 / 12432
|[[Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express|Trivandrum Rajdhani Express]]
|[[Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express]]
|
|
* Longest-running [[Rajdhani Express]]
* Longest-running [[Rajdhani Express]]
* Travels the longest non-stop run of [[Indian Railways]] (528&nbsp;km in 6.5 hrs) between [[Kota Junction railway station|Kota]] and [[Vadodara Junction railway station|Vadodara]] [http://www.irfca.org/faq/faq-trivia.html].{{Better source needed|date=July 2018}}
* Travels the third-longest non-stop run of Indian Railways (457&amp;nbsp;km in 6 hours) between {{stnlnk|Hazrat Nizamuddin}} and Kota.
* Also travels the third-longest non-stop run of Indian Railways (461&nbsp;km in 6hrs) between {{stnlnk|Hazrat Nizamuddin}} and Kota.
|-
|-
|12507 / 12508
|12507 / 12508
|[[Thiruvananthapuram–Silchar Superfast Express|Aronai Express]]
|[[Aronai Express]]
|
|
* Longest-running [[Superfast Express trains in India|Superfast train]]  
* Longest-running [[Superfast Express trains in India|Superfast train]]  
* Least punctual long-distance train (average delay on a trip is about 10–12 hours)
* Least punctual long-distance train (average delay on a trip is about 10–12 hours)
* Second-longest-running train in India after [[Dibrugarh–Kanyakumari Vivek Express|Vivek Express]].
|-
|-
|12625 / 12626
|12625 / 12626
|[[Kerala Express]]
|[[Kerala Express]]
|
|
* Longest-running daily [[Superfast Express trains in India|Superfast Express]] train
* Train connecting India's capital city ([[New Delhi]]) to Kerala's capital city([[Thiruvananthapuram|Thiruvanathapuram]])
|-
|-
|12643 / 12644
|12643 / 12644
|[[Swarna Jayanti Express]]
|[[Swarna Jayanti Express]]
|
|
* Longest-running '''[[Swarna Jayanti Express|Swarna Jayanti Superfast Express]]'''
* Longest-running [[Swarna Jayanti Express|Swarna Jayanti Superfast Express]]
|-
|-
|20634 / 20633
|20634 / 20633
|[[Thiruvananthapuram - Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express|Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express]]
|[[Kasaragod–Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express|Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express]]
|
|
* First [[Vande Bharat Express]] train in Kerala.
* First [[Vande Bharat Express]] train in Kerala  
|-
|20631 / 20632
|[[Mangaluru Central–Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express|Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express]]
|
* Second [[Vande Bharat Express]] train in Kerala
|-
|16302 / 16301
|[[Venad Express]]
|
* One of the oldest daily intercity trains in Kerala (started service in 1972).
* One of the few major trains passing via Kottayam to stop at Ernakulam South where it had to undergo a locomotive reversal (now only stops at Ernakulam North).
|-
|12624 / 12623
|[[Thiruvananthapuram–Chennai Mail]]
|
* Started service in 1944 from [[Madras Central]] to [[Cochin Harbour Terminus]], later extended to Trivandrum in 1977.
* It was the second express train running through Kerala and the first from south Kerala at the time of commencement of service.
* Only mail express train currently having service in Kerala.
* A best seller [[Comedy film|comedy]] [[Thriller film|thriller]] film named ''[[No.20 Madras Mail]]'' released in 1990 was recorded within the moving train.
|}
|}


==Incidents==
=={{anchor|Incidents}}Incident==
* A [[shunting (rail)|shunting]] engine ''trailed through'' at point number 57A near [[Relay interlocking|Route Relay Interlocking]] cabin and damaged the [[Point machine|point]] and [[Railway signal|signal]] gears in Thiruvananthapuram Central [[Rail yard|yard]]. No casualties.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/trains-delayed-as-engine-jumps-signal/article24301547.ece|title=Trains delayed as engine jumps signal|newspaper=The Hindu|date=30 June 2018}}</ref>
A [[shunting (rail)|shunting]] engine trailed through at point 57A near the [[Interlocking#Relay interlocking|relay interlocking]] cabin and damaged the [[Point machine|point]] and [[Railway signal|signal]] gears in the Thiruvananthapuram Central [[Rail yard|yard]] in 2018. There were no casualties.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/trains-delayed-as-engine-jumps-signal/article24301547.ece|title=Trains delayed as engine jumps signal|newspaper=The Hindu|date=30 June 2018}}&lt;/ref&gt;


==Gallery==
==Gallery==
<gallery>
&lt;gallery mode=packed&gt;
File:Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station.jpg|Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station
File:Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station.jpg|The station|alt=Front of the station
File:Inside view of Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station.jpg
File:Inside view of Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station.jpg|Trackside|alt=Looking down a platform as a train pulls in
File:Train entering Thiruvananthapuram Central.jpg
File:Train entering Thiruvananthapuram Central.jpg|Train entering the station|alt=A red train, seen from the front
File:Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station board.jpg
File:Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station board.jpg|Signage|alt=Sign in three languages
</gallery>
&lt;/gallery&gt;


==See also==
==See also==
 
{{Portal|India}}
* {{stnlnk|Kazhakuttam}}
* {{stnlnk|Thiruvananthapuram North}}
* {{stnlnk|Kochuveli}}
* {{stnlnk|Thiruvananthapuram South}}
* {{stnlnk|Nemom}}
* {{stnlnk|Ernakulam Junction}}
* {{rwd|Thiruvananthapuram}}
* [[Southern Railway zone]]


==References==
==References==
Line 133: Line 145:
* [http://etrain.info/in Indian Railways]
* [http://etrain.info/in Indian Railways]


 
{{Commons category|Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station}}


{{Thiruvananthapuram}}
{{Thiruvananthapuram}}
{{Thiruvananthapuram Railway division}}
{{Thiruvananthapuram Railway division}}
{{Kerala transit}}
{{Kerala transit}}
{{Top 100 booking stations of Indian Railways}}


[[Category:Railway stations in India opened in 1931]]
[[Category:Railway stations in India opened in 1931]]

Revision as of 19:51, 14 November 2025


"TVC Station" redirects here. For other stations, see TVC (disambiguation).

Thiruvananthapuram Central
Indian Railways station
Thiruvananthapuram Central main building.
Other namesThambanoor Railway Station
LocationThampanoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala,
India 🇮🇳
Coordinates8°29′15″N 76°57′07″E / 8.4874°N 76.952°E / 8.4874; 76.952
Elevation6.740 metres (22.11 ft)
Owned byIndian Railways
Operated bySouthern Railways Thiruvananthapuram Division
Line(s)Kollam–Thiruvananthapuram trunk line<br />Thiruvananthapuram–Nagercoil–Kanyakumari line
Platforms5
Tracks16
ConnectionsBus interchange Airport interchange ferry/water interchange, taxi stand, pre-paid auto service
Construction
Structure typeStandard (on ground station)
ParkingAvailable
Other information
StatusFunctioning
Station codeTVC
Zone(s) Southern Railway zone
Division(s) Thiruvananthapuram
History
Opened4 November 1931; 94 years ago (1931-11-04)
Closed1940
Rebuilt1955, 2025 (Planned)
ElectrifiedYes (since 2005 December)
Previous namesTravancore Central
Passengers
2017–1940,908 per day <br>Annual passengers – 14,292,407<ref>"Station Re-development Data – Trivandrum Central(TVC)". Central Railway Zone – Indian Railways. Retrieved 1 February 2016.</ref>
Rank1 (in Kerala)<br /> 1 (in Thiruvananthapuram railway division)
Location
Thiruvananthapuram Central is located in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram Central
Thiruvananthapuram Central
Location within Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram Central is located in India
Thiruvananthapuram Central
Thiruvananthapuram Central
Thiruvananthapuram Central (India)
Lua error in Module:Infobox_mapframe at line 197: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
Interactive map
Railways in Kerala cities
Cities & connected years
1861 – Tirur

1861 – Kozhikode
1898 – Palakkad
1901 – Thalassery
1902 – Kochi
1902 – Thrissur
1904 – Kollam
1907 – Kannur
1907 – Kasargod
1918 – Thiruvananthapuram
1958 – Kottayam

1989 – Alappuzha
Railway lines

Thiruvananthapuram Central (station code: TVC,<ref name="stn_code">"Station Code Index" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. Centre For Railway Information Systems. 2023–24. p. 8. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 February 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.</ref>) is an NSG–2 category railway station in Thiruvananthapuram railway division of Southern Railway zone.<ref name="sr_stn">"SOUTHERN RAILWAY LIST OF STATIONS AS ON 01.04.2023 (CATEGORY- WISE)" (PDF). Portal of Indian Railways. Centre For Railway Information Systems. 1 April 2023. p. 1. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 March 2024. Retrieved 25 March 2024.</ref> It is a major railway station that serves the city of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala. It is Kerala's busiest railway station. The station building, a landmark of the city, is located in Thampanoor opposite the central bus stand. Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station is the highest profit earning railway station in Kerala and the most crowded and busiest railway station in Kerala. Most high priority and superfast express trains originate from here like TVC Rajdhani Express.

A number of long-distance trains depart from Thiruvananthapuram Central. Thiruvananthapuram is the first tier-2 city in the south along India's longest train routes: the Kanyakumari–Thiruvananthapuram–Dibrugarh Vivek Express route and the Kanyakumari–Thiruvananthapuram–Jammu Tawi–Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Himsagar Express route. A second terminal (the South Terminal) was opened in 2004 to handle passenger traffic, and the West Terminal opened in 2007. To reduce congestion, the station has 16 tracks.<ref>"Revised parking rates at railway stations come into effect". The New Indian Express. Thiruvananthapuram: Express Publications. 2 July 2012. Archived from the original on 11 June 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2012.</ref>

History

The Madras–Quilon line was extended to Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the princely state of Travancore, and was opened on 4 January 1918. The line terminated at Chackai, the trading centre of Thiruvananthapuram. M. E. Watts, dewan of Travancore, extended the rail line to the heart of the city. The terminus was moved to its present location at Thiruvananthapuram Central in 1931. The station was built during the reign of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, the maharani of Travancore, and was inaugurated on 4 November 1931. No bricks were used for the station's construction; it was built with rock masonry.<ref>Quilon – Thiruvananthapuram Central Metre Gauge Line. Irfca.org. Retrieved on 2011-11-10.</ref> Thiruvananthapuram was a branch-line station, but the maharani built it on a par with its counterparts in India's major cities. The station was built to handle two departures per day in 1931, and had one platform. The single-line platform continued until the 1970s; the extended platform accommodated trains as a metre-gauge line until the gauge conversion. The platform could accommodate two trains at a time.

Layout

The station has five platforms to handle long and short-distance trains, and two entrances. The main entrance is opposite the central bus station, and the west entrance is on Power House Road. The train-care centre is adjacent to this entrance. The Nemom and Kochuveli stations were announced in the railway budget as satellite terminals of Thiruvananthapuram Central. The Kochuveli satellite terminal has begun operation with trains originating from Thiruvananthapuram Central.

Security

Thiruvananthapuram Central was Kerala's first station to install video surveillance. A networked electronic surveillance system was installed by the Railway Protection Force (RPF) to improve security and monitor passengers arriving at the station.<ref>Video surveillance system at Central. Hindu.com (2006-08-24). Retrieved on 2011-11-10.</ref>

Future plans

The conversion of Thiruvananthapuram Central to world-class standards was announced in the railway budget. Former Union Minister for Railways Lalu Prasad laid the foundation stone for the station's expansion and modernization in December 2006. Tenders were invited for feasibility studies for the project. More than ₹1 billion (US$14 million) was needed for the first phase of this project.<ref>Rs.100 crores for modernization[usurped]. Hinduonnet.com (2006-11-08). Retrieved on 2011-11-10.</ref> A new complex will be built, covering 1,000,000 square feet (93,000 m2), and modern facilities (including an office and commercial complex) are planned. A proposed passenger terminal at Nemom was announced in the rail budget, but work has not yet begun. It is estimated that a consortium would be needed for the Thiruvananthapuram Central expansion, due to the size of the project.<ref>Trivandrum Central to be made a world-class station. Hindu.com (2007-03-07). Retrieved on 2011-11-10.</ref>.Nemom Terminus Project Construction Started just in this year

Major trains

Popular trains originating or terminating at Thiruvananthapuram Central
Train no Train name Remarks
12431 / 12432 Thiruvananthapuram Rajdhani Express
12507 / 12508 Aronai Express
  • Longest-running Superfast train
  • Least punctual long-distance train (average delay on a trip is about 10–12 hours)
12625 / 12626 Kerala Express
12643 / 12644 Swarna Jayanti Express
20634 / 20633 Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express
20631 / 20632 Mangaluru Vande Bharat Express
16302 / 16301 Venad Express
  • One of the oldest daily intercity trains in Kerala (started service in 1972).
  • One of the few major trains passing via Kottayam to stop at Ernakulam South where it had to undergo a locomotive reversal (now only stops at Ernakulam North).
12624 / 12623 Thiruvananthapuram–Chennai Mail
  • Started service in 1944 from Madras Central to Cochin Harbour Terminus, later extended to Trivandrum in 1977.
  • It was the second express train running through Kerala and the first from south Kerala at the time of commencement of service.
  • Only mail express train currently having service in Kerala.
  • A best seller comedy thriller film named No.20 Madras Mail released in 1990 was recorded within the moving train.

Incident

A shunting engine trailed through at point 57A near the relay interlocking cabin and damaged the point and signal gears in the Thiruvananthapuram Central yard in 2018. There were no casualties.<ref>"Trains delayed as engine jumps signal". The Hindu. 30 June 2018.</ref>

Gallery

<gallery mode=packed> File:Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station.jpg|The station|alt=Front of the station File:Inside view of Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station.jpg|Trackside|alt=Looking down a platform as a train pulls in File:Train entering Thiruvananthapuram Central.jpg|Train entering the station|alt=A red train, seen from the front File:Thiruvananthapuram Central railway station board.jpg|Signage|alt=Sign in three languages </gallery>

See also

References

External links


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