THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Railways has started construction of a third track on the Shornur-Eranakulam route, in order for the Vandebharat train to reach Kannur from Thiruvananthapuram in less time. Survey procedures are complete and efforts are being made to implement the project without acquiring much land. Curves of tracks will also be straightened without land acquisition. The target is 110 kmph in the first phase and 130 kmph in the future.

Vandebharat Express completed its trial run from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur in 7.10 hours yesterday. The distance between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur is 501 km. The effort was to reach by at least six hours. Currently, Rajdhani arrives at 7.57 hrs. One more trial run will be conducted before the inauguration.

Currently, 110 kmph speed is possible only on Shornur- Mangalore section. The maximum speed on the Ernakulam-Shornur route is 80 kmph, and the third track is being planned, taking this into consideration. Initially, the speed on the proposed route will be above 110 kmph. The Thiruvananthapuram-Kayamkulam section has a speed of 100 kmph, while Kayamkulam-Ernakulam has 90 kmph. The speed can be increased after the completion of track straightening, metal strengthening and heightening works and installation of high-capacity sleeper and rail. Measures for that have also been started.

Vandebharat started its trial run from Thiruvananthapuram at 5.10 am yesterday and the same timetable is being considered. After Jan Shatabdi Express at 5.30 pm, the next train from Ernakulam to Thiruvananthapuram is at 11 pm only. This will be taken into account and the timing of the return service in the evening will be fixed accordingly.

There is a lot of pressure to add stops but stopping for one minute at a station will lead to a loss of up to three minutes. There are requests to stop at places like Kayamkulam, Thiruvalla, Aluva, Shornur and Tirur. In the test run, the efficiency and safety of the tracks were evaluated. The train reached Thiruvananthapuram from Kannur by night.