Kochi is one of the busiest and popular cities in southern India. People from every corner of the country visit the city for various reasons ranging from tourism, education to better health facilities.
The department in Kochi has taken great effort in making this southern city well connected to north, east and western parts of India. Kochi currently has three major railways stations - Ernakulam Junction, Ernakulam Town Railway Station and Aluva railway station. All the three stations have facilities for both intra and interstate trains.
Ernakulam Junction is the biggest station among the three. Majority of the long distance trains halt here. The station is supervised by Southern Railway Zone of India Railways and falls under Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division.
The station is well-maintained and is acknowledged as A1 graded station of southern India. The junction has four lines for four different directions – northern line towards Shonur, eastern line towards Kottayam, southern line towards Alappuzzha and south-western line towards Willingdon Island.
There are also a number of stations in the Greater Kochi region. Most of the local trains cross through this region. Localities refer to Ernakulam Junction as Ernakulam north or simply north and Ernakulam Town Station as south. The south station witnesses as many as 128 trains daily, while the north is mainly reserved for long distance trains.
Among the local and smaller stations Edapally station, Thripunithura, Kalamaserry, Kumbalam, Nettor and Aroor are the busier and important ones. Ernakulam Terminus, a station located just beside the High Court, is famous for its historic significance.
It is said that Mahatma Gandhi and British Viceroy visited Kochi through this station. Ernakulam Terminus is the first railway station in Kochi but since 1960, this station has been abandoned for local passengers. Today, this station is used as goods depot for Southern Railways.
Facilities available at Ernakulam Junction are:
ATM
Cyber Cafe
Escalator
Foot Over Bridge
IRCTC Restaurants
Integrated Survelliance Post by Excise & Commercial Taxes Department
Online Reservation counters
Passenger Waiting Hall with transit lodging facility
Parcel Booking Office
Railway Mailing service (RMS) office
Railway Protection Force - Circle Office
Pre-Paid Autorickshaw counters
Pre-Paid Parking space
Kochi Railway enquiry numbers: Ernakulam Junction - 484 131 Ernakulam Town - 484 2390920 / 2395198 Cochin Harbour Terminus - 484 2666050 Kochi Railway Station Code – ERS
Hotels near Kochi Railway Station
Many tourists prefer to stay at a lodge or hotel located near the railway station for better conveyance. There are a number of good lodging options near the station:
Treebo Trend Anchor Inn Mckenzie Lane Fort Cochin, Kochi, Kerala 682001•093228 00100
North Centre Hotel 3-star hotel Shivarama, SRM Road, Ernakulam North, Kaloor, Ernakulam, Kerala 682018•085890 36066
Zostel Kochi (Fort Kochi) X68R+6PM, Kochi 1/751A,1/2047 Police Quarters Lines, Quiros St, near Fort Kochi Police Quarters, Fort Nagar, Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala 682001•044 4011 5828
Calvin's Inn Home Stay No:1/713 A6, Bishop Kureethara Rd, K.B. Jacob Rd, Near Bishop's House, Vadathazha, Amaravathy, Fort Kochi, Kochi, Kerala 682001•088914 42749