John Brittas Urges Centre To Drop Move To Shut Ernakulam Loco Shed

New Delhi: CPI(M) MP John Brittas has urged Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to intervene and withdraw any move to shut down the Ernakulam Loco Shed, warning that such a step would severely affect Kerala’s railway operations.

In a letter to the minister, Brittas said reports that Southern Railway is considering the closure of the Ernakulam Loco Shed have caused serious concern. He described the facility as indispensable, noting that it is Kerala’s only locomotive maintenance shed and plays a key role in ensuring the smooth running of train services in the state.

The MP pointed out that the Ernakulam Loco Shed, established in 1981, supports major services including Rajdhani and Duronto trains, Kerala-based services, and trains operating via the Konkan route. Fully electrified in 2021, the shed has been steadily upgraded and has also been formally nominated by the Railway Board for the maintenance of tower wagons, recognising its technical capability and strategic importance.

Brittas noted that the shed currently maintains 37 broad-gauge diesel locomotives and provides daily support for shunting operations and goods services in the Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad divisions. He underlined that the Railway Board had sanctioned infrastructure development works worth four crore rupees for the Ernakulam Diesel Loco Shed, with the projects now under execution and scheduled for completion by 2026.

Referring to official records, the MP said a Railway Board order issued in November 2024 clearly stated that 50 locomotives would continue to be maintained at the Ernakulam Loco Shed for the time being. He also recalled that the Southern Railway General Manager had informed Members of Parliament in May this year that the main requirement for expanding electric loco maintenance at Ernakulam was the installation of a wheel lathe, which is currently under proposal, and that trained personnel were already in place for such an upgrade.

Brittas questioned how a closure proposal could be considered in the face of these assurances and ongoing investments. He warned that shutting down the shed would weaken Kerala’s emergency preparedness, affect disaster response capability, and leave the state without a crucial railway support facility. He also pointed to the likely socio-economic impact, saying hundreds of employees and contract workers depend on the shed for their livelihood.

Highlighting what he called a clear disparity, the MP said neighbouring Tamil Nadu has multiple loco sheds and major railway workshops, while Kerala has only one such facility. Closing the Ernakulam Loco Shed, he said, would deepen this imbalance and amount to continued neglect of the state.

Calling for urgent intervention, Brittas urged the Railway Minister to retain the Ernakulam Loco Shed and further develop it by allocating additional electric locomotives, ensuring that Kerala’s railway infrastructure remains efficient and reliable.