New Delhi: Union Railway Minister, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, has said there is no plan to close the Ernakulam Loco Shed; in fact, the facility will be upgraded for Electric Engines. He officially cleared the air regarding the future of the Ernakulam Loco Shed in a direct response to the Chief Minister of Kerala, Shri Pinarayi Vijayan.
Addressing concerns raised by the Chief Minister in his recent letter, the Railway Minister categorically stated that there is no plan whatsoever to close down the Ernakulam Loco Shed. He clarified that the facility remains essential for the operational needs of the Thiruvananthapuram and Palakkad Railway Divisions, where it continues to maintain diesel locomotives and critical breakdown vehicles for the region.
The Railway Minister further shared a roadmap for the shed’s future, revealing that the facility is actually being upgraded rather than shut down. Plans are already in motion to transform the shed so it can maintain modern electric locomotives. To support this transition, Railways has already taken up necessary works to augment infrastructure and install specialised testing facilities for homing electric engines. This response ensures that Ernakulam will remain a vital hub for Indian Railways, evolving with the latest technology to serve the state’s transport network.