One more stop for Thiruvananthapuram-Kasargod Vande Bharat? demand from this district growing stronger

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The demand for one more stop for Kerala’s first Vande Bharat Express is growing stronger. The request is for the Thiruvananthapuram–Kasaragod Vande Bharat Express (20633/20634) to have an additional stop. Passengers from Malappuram district are demanding that the train should have a stop at Tirur station as well. Since the launch of Kerala’s first Vande Bharat service in 2023, passengers from Malappuram have been demanding a stop at Tirur.

However, railway authorities have not yet responded officially to this request. The train operates six days a week (except Thursdays) and currently has nine stops between Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram. It leaves Thiruvananthapuram at 5:15 a.m., halting at Kollam Junction, Chengannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam Town, Thrissur, Shoranur Junction, Kozhikode, and Kannur, before reaching Kasaragod at 1:30 p.m.

On its return journey, the train leaves Kasaragod at 2:30 p.m. and reaches Thiruvananthapuram Central at 10:40 p.m. After stopping at Kozhikode, the train does not stop anywhere in Malappuram district; the next halt is only at Shoranur Junction in Palakkad district.

For passengers from Malappuram, the absence of a stop at Tirur or Kuttippuram means they have to travel a long distance to board the train from Shoranur. Passengers say this is a clear sign of neglect by the Railways towards the people of Malappuram district.