Posing a stiff challenge to the semi-high-speed rail prospects of Kerala, Southern Railways have decided to enhance the speed of trains running through the State in a phased manner. As part of the move, Railways have reclassified routes like Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam via Alappuzha, Shoranur-Mangaluru, and Shoranur to Arakkonam in Tamil Nadu, where the speed will be increased to a maximum permissible 130 kilometres per hour (km/hr).
The whole exercise will take around two years as Railways will have to undertake a slew of works, including straightening of tracks and signal systems, relaxing existing restrictions, fixing curves, and strengthening bridges. The Hindu had earlier reported that the Centre is making moves to enhance the speed of trains along the existing rail network in the State, with an eye on the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, casting a shadow on the State’s government’s proposed SilverLine semi-high-speed rail corridor project, which promises to cover the Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod stretch in four hours.
