Parliament Question: Stoppage for Venad Express at Vaikom Road Railway Station

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4268 TO BE ANSWERED ON 18.03.2026 STOPPAGE FOR VENAD EXPRESS AT VAIKOM ROAD RAILWAY STATION 4268. SHRI K SUDHAKARAN: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has received a representation from the Vaikom Road Users Forum regarding the sanctioning of a stoppage for the Venad Express (16301/02) at Vaikom Road Railway Station (VARD) and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government is aware that Sixty-two percent of the station's revenue is generated from reserved ticket sales despite the lack of a functioning reservation counter and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has evaluated the strategic importance of this station which serves major pilgrimage centres such as the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple and educational hubs like IIIT Kottayam and if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps taken/being taken by the Government to sanction a one-minute halt for the Venad Express to accommodate the needs of students, employees and pilgrims in the region? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) to (d) To facilitate the passengers, stoppage of 16649/16650 Mangalore Central - Kanniyakumari Express has been provided at Vaikom Road station w.e.f. 01.11.2025. Accordingly, Vaikom Road station is presently being served by following 19 train services: Sl. Train No. and Name 1 12625 Thiruvananthapuram Central - New Delhi Express ---2/- §-2- 2 12626 New Delhi - Thiruvananthapuram Central Express 3 16325 Nilambur Road - Kottayam Express 4 16326 Kottayam - Nilambur Road Express 5 16327 Madurai - Guruvayur Express 6 16328 Guruvayur - Madurai Express 7 16649 Mangalore Central - Kanniyakumari Express 8 16650 Kanniyakumari - Mangalore Central Express 9 16791 Tuticorin - Palakkad Express 10 16792 Palakkad - Tuticorin Express 11 56005 Ernakulam - Kottayam Passenger 12 56006 Kottayam - Ernakulam Passenger 13 66303 Kollam - Ernakulam MEMU 14 66304 Ernakulam - Kollam MEMU 15 66307 Ernakulam - Kollam MEMU 16 66308 Kollam - Ernakulam MEMU 17 66310 Kollam - Ernakulam MEMU 18 66321 Ernakulam - Kollam MEMU 19 66322 Kollam - Ernakulam MEMU Moreover, proposals/ requests/ suggestions/ representations, both formal and informal inter alia for provision of stoppage of trains are received from Members of Parliament, elected representatives, organizations/rail users etc. at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Divisional Office etc. As receipt of such proposals/ requests/suggestions is a continuous and dynamic process, centralized compendium of such requests is not maintained. However, these are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time, which is an on-going process. ---3/--3- Besides, provision of stoppages of train services, which is an on-going process, depends on the traffic justification, operational feasibility including availability of extra time on the section & availability of matching infrastructure such as Platform length etc. Reservation Counter: Vaikom Road (VARD) is a Station Ticket Booking Agent (STBA) operated NSG- 6 station in Thiruvananthapuram Division of Southern Railway. The nearest PRS Centre is at Piravom Road (PVRD) station, located at a distance of 6 Km from VARD. At present more than 87% reserved tickets are issued online which provides an option to get railway reservation tickets from anywhere, anytime. Moreover, Railways has launched RailOne App on 01.07.2025. This App enables passengers to book reserved as well as unreserved tickets on mobile phone. This, in effect, brings the Passenger reservation system facility to passenger's palm. *****