Train speeds to increase from Thursday; Vande Bharat, Jan Shatabdi and Palaruvi to arrive earlier

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Travel time on 414 trains across the country will be reduced from Thursday as their speeds are being increased. In Kerala, the Vande Bharat, Jan Shatabdi and Palaruvi Express trains will arrive earlier at several stations.

The speed increase has been made possible due to the upgrade of the automatic signalling system and the electrification of nearly 90 per cent of railway lines across the country. With higher speeds in Kerala as well, trains will reach many stations ahead of their earlier schedules.

In the state, train speeds have been increased on the Kollam-Kottayam, Kottayam-Ernakulam and Shoranur-Mangaluru sections. Trains on these routes can now run at speeds of up to 110 kmph. However, trains have not yet been able to reach 100 kmph on the Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram section. At present, only the Vande Bharat runs at a higher speed on this route, covering the Kollam-Thiruvananthapuram distance in 48 minutes. Other trains take 74 minutes, while the Jan Shatabdi completes the journey in 62 minutes.

Target speed of 130 kmph
The Railways aim to increase train speeds in Kerala to 130 kmph from next year. Without altering curves, the target is to achieve this speed by strengthening tracks and upgrading signalling on the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru route. Southern Railway has a total track length of 2,794 km, of which about 70 per cent can currently support speeds of up to 110 kmph, according to reports.

Changes in train timings
Based on the speed increase on certain sections, the timings of trains such as Vande Bharat, Jan Shatabdi and Palaruvi Express have been revised from today.

The Vande Bharat running via Kottayam will arrive four minutes earlier at Chengannur, five minutes earlier at Kottayam, eight minutes earlier at Ernakulam and ten minutes earlier at Thrissur. The evening Vande Bharat from Kannur to Ernakulam will arrive five minutes earlier at all stations between Kannur and Ernakulam.

The Palaruvi Express will reach Ernakulam five minutes earlier. The morning Jan Shatabdi to Thiruvananthapuram will arrive ten minutes earlier at Ernakulam and fifteen minutes earlier at Kollam.