KOTTAYAM: People who have travelled in trains between Kayamkulam and Ernakulam via Kottayam will always remember those brief moments of complete darkness which repeat twice before the train halts at Kottayam station.
The 65-year-old twin tunnels just before the station used to give passengers this unique experience. The ongoing track-doubling work has made these tunnels redundant.
The last train, Tirunelveli-Palakkad Palaruvi Express, ran through the tunnels on Thursday morning. As part of the track-doubling works between Ettumanur and Chingavanam stations, new tracks have been laid outside both the tunnels. The railways has not decided about the future of these tunnels, which are 84 and 67m-long. The twin tunnels were built in 1957. Metroman E Sreedharan, then a railway assistant engineer, was also involved in the construction work. Six workers had lost their lives when the wall of the tunnel collapsed during the construction.
The day also saw the first train running through the track adjacent to the tunnels.
Meanwhile, a senior railway official said that the route is clear for starting normal rail traffic through the new tracks from May 29 evening. The opening of the new line is expected to ensure a smooth passage of trains along the busy stretch between Kayamkulam and Ernakulam via Kottayam.
