More stops, lower rate; 10 Vande Metro trains for Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Vande Metro trains, which will have affordable fares for the common man, will soon start running in Kerala. It is reported that the Centre is planning to operate 10 Vande Metro services in the state. A Vande Metro train is an AC train that will have stops at all major railway stations. It will run at a speed of 100-130 kmph. There will be no ticket booking facility for this train. Passengers can buy tickets from the respective stations. A coach can accommodate 100 people and more can stand and travel. It is likely to have the rate of the super fast.

The first service will be from Ernakulam to Kozhikode. Other services are Thiruvananthapuram - Ernakulam, Kozhikode - Palakkad, Kottayam - Palakkad, Ernakulam - Coimbatore, Madurai - Guruvayur, Kollam - Tirunelveli, Kollam - Thrissur, Kozhikode - Mangalore and Nilambur - Mettupalayam.

Both the current Vande Bharat services in Kerala are very profitable. This is why Kerala has been included in the first list of states to get the Vande Metro service. The construction cost of a coach is Rs 10 crores. 400 trains will be rolled out this year from the Rail Coach Factory, Kapurthala and Integral Coach Factory, Perambur. The Vande metro will provide service to urban commuters while covering distances of up to 250 km.

12 coaches

• Vande Metro with 12 coaches is a modified form of MEMU on the Vande Bharat model.
• All facilities of Vande Bharat, except food, will be available in Vande Metro
• There will be automatic doors, large glass windows, doors connecting coaches
• Digital route - stop indication display, mobile charging facility, camera
• Modern toilets, Kavach digital security system to avoid accidents