THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even if Vande Bharat trains with state-of-the-art facilities capable of speeds of up to 180 kmph is sanctioned for Kerala, they will not be able to run at even half the speed due to curves on the tracks. About 36% of the existing railways are at curves. There are a total of 626 curves. Most of the curves are in city centres. Tracks need to be upgraded and several stations have to be replaced if speed is to increase. This may take 10 to 20 years.

The announced top speed of Vande Bharat train is 160 kmph, but can reach a top speed of 180 kmph. At present the average speed on the Ernakulam-Shornur road is 80 kmph and on the Shornur-Mangalore road it is 110 kmph. The maximum allowable speed on Kerala tracks is 80 to 110 kmph. Vande Bharat trains will have to run at the same speed in Kerala as Janashatabdi and Rajadhani trains. Some other trains will have to be halted in order for Vande Bharat trains to pass.

Vande Bharat does not have an engine coach like normal trains. Instead there are four traction motors with a capacity of 250 kW under the alternate coaches. It has the same functionality as the Electrical Multiple Unit in Metro. This makes it easier to accelerate and stop, reducing travel time by up to 10 percent. These fully air-conditioned trains will have 16 coaches. There are 52 seats in each of the two executive coaches. It will have a higher travel cost than others. The other coaches have 72 seats.

75 Vande Bharat

The Union Budget has announced that 400 Vande Bharat will begin service within three years. As part of the Azadi Ki Amrit Mahotsav, 75 Vande Bharat trains will run in 75 weeks. Construction of 75 trains will be completed by the end of next year. The new trains will start running from next March.

Currently, chair car-only trains are used for services of up to 500 km. The new trains can be used for overnight travel with AC sleeper coaches. In 2018, the construction cost was one billion. The cost of new lightweight trains will be significantly reduced. Vande Bharat trains are manufactured at the Chennai Integral Coach Factory and at the Modern Coach Factory in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh.

Our hope

Vande Bharat is likely to be allowed on the routes with highest number of passengers and revenue, that is, Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore, Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam, Ernakulam-Bangalore, Chennai-Ernakulam and Kannur-Thiruvananthapuram routes. These are the highest revenue earning routes in the Southern Railway.

Local and terrific

1. Vande Bharat will have revolving seats, modular bio toilet, wide windows and sliding doors. It will have excellent seats, interiors and automatic doors. These are locally made.

2. Seats with pushback system, bactericidal air conditioning, centralized coach monitoring, four emergency doors per coach. The bogie also has a waterproof design, emergency lights and a passenger information system.