THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The first Vande Bharat train allotted to Kerala has reached Thiruvananthapuram. The train came to a halt at the special yard at Kochuveli. Union Minister V Muraleedharan and BJP District President VV Rajesh welcomed the train. Employees were welcomed with sweets and garlands.

Even when the rakes of Vande Bharat Express reached Palakkad, BJP workers gave a huge reception. PK Krishnadas, BJP leader and the chairman of Indian Railway Passengers Amenities Committee welcomed the loco pilot with garlands. Ahead of the inaugural service, Southern Railway Manager will visit Kozhikode and Thiruvananthapuram to assess the arrangements. The Prime Minister will flag off the Vande Bharat service on April 25. PK Krishnadas said that Vande Bharat is the Prime Minister's gift for Malayalis on the occasion of Vishu. He said that there is no doubt that the 16-coach train will be of great benefit to the people.

The train will run one service daily. As per sources. it will operate at the time of Janasatabdi in the morning. There will be five or six stops till Kannur. The service will be via Kottayam as it is dual carriageway. Electrification of two pit lines has been completed for this purpose at Kochuveli. Although the top speed of the train is 180 kmph, the plan is to operate the train at 110 kmph. Work is underway to strengthen the tracks for this. The route of Maveli Express towards Thiruvananthapuram and Janashtabdi towards Kannur has been restricted to make way for Vande Bharat. Maveli will operate till Kochuveli and Janashatabdi till Shornur. Four new Vande Bharat trains are in the pipeline, of which two are in Karnataka, where elections are coming up.