The picturesque town of Nilambur in Kerala, despite being actively promoted as a key tourist destination by the state's tourism department, faces a significant roadblock: severely inadequate railway connectivity from major urban centres. While a tourism conclave aims to highlight its potential, travellers from cities like Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam find the journey cumbersome due to a lack of trains and outdated facilities.
Limited Trains and Passenger Inconvenience
Connectivity from south Kerala is particularly poor, with only two trains servicing the route: the Rajya Rani Express originating from Thiruvananthapuram and the Kottayam–Nilambur Express. The situation is compounded by the quality of rolling stock. The day train from Kottayam uses older coaches with poor mobile phone charging arrangements, a major inconvenience for modern travellers.
M K Ajit Kumar of the India Tourism Forum shared his firsthand experience, highlighting the reserved travel woes on the Kottayam-Nilambur train. "They have two reserved compartments on this train, but there are not many charging points in the coach. I had to go to the unreserved coaches, charge the phone and then come back," Kumar said. He also pointed out that the train halts at Shornur Junction for over 30 minutes, further lengthening the journey. He advocates for newer coaches with better amenities.
Infrastructure Hurdles: No Doubling, Missed Opportunities
A core issue limiting the frequency of trains is the lack of a double line on the route. Although Nilambur has clear tourism potential, the Railways has not prioritized doubling the track, which would allow more services to operate. This infrastructure gap directly impacts the ability to run additional trains.
Krishnakumar P of the Thrissur Railway Passengers' Association noted that adding more trains is crucial but challenging. He suggested that first, the Nilambur–Nanjangaud line may need to be developed. Furthermore, the scenic beauty of the route, originally built by the British to access timber, presents a perfect opportunity to introduce popular Vistadome coaches for tourists, an opportunity currently going untapped.
Development at an Environmental Cost
Amidst these connectivity issues, recent development work has also drawn criticism. For railway electrification projects, trees were cut down at Angadipuram and Nilambur Road railway stations, among others on the Shoranur-Nilambur route. This has destroyed iconic greenery that was once a characteristic feature of the journey, raising concerns about balancing infrastructure upgrades with environmental preservation.
In stark contrast to the rail woes, road connectivity to Nilambur remains good, with routes stretching to destinations like Ooty. This disparity underscores how enhanced rail infrastructure could significantly boost Nilambur's accessibility and realize its full potential as a major tourism hub in Kerala.
