New Vande Bharat service to Kozhikode; more trains on the way bringing hope to passengers?

KOZHIKODE: There is encouraging news from the Railway Department for passengers in the Malabar region, as long-standing travel hardships may soon be addressed. BJP district president K.P. Prakash Babu met with Union Minister of State for Railways V. Somanna to discuss the need for additional train services in the region. During the meeting, the minister assured that favourable steps would be taken. BJP leaders also submitted a formal memorandum outlining key demands.

One of the main proposals under consideration is the extension of the Vande Bharat Express to Kozhikode. Although Vande Bharat services across most Indian routes are running profitably, the Mangaluru–Goa Vande Bharat has been recording low passenger numbers. The Railways is now exploring the possibility of extending this service to Kozhikode, given that a large number of commuters from Malabar travel daily to Mangaluru. Officials believe the extension could make the service highly successful in Kerala.

If extending the Mangaluru–Goa–Mangaluru Vande Bharat to Kozhikode proves unfeasible, the minister assured that a new Vande Bharat sleeper service for Kerala could instead be routed through Kozhikode.

The delegation also urged the Railway Ministry to extend the Kannur–Yesvantpur train up to Kozhikode and to introduce a new Mangaluru–Rameswaram train service.

In addition, the minister gave a positive response to the long-pending demand for a new train service on the Palakkad–Kasaragod route, which would significantly ease travel difficulties for passengers across the Malabar region.