KOLLAM: There are obstacles all along the way in Kollam blocking the Vande Bharat train. If the train has to run fast in the district, almost 60 curves big and small on the railway path have to be straightened. In the present situation, only small curves can be straightened. The bend towards Kollam railway station is eight degrees. Railway authorities said reconstruction is impossible here. This stretch, which currently takes ten minutes to reach from College Junction to the railway station, will hinder the drive of Vande Bharat.

Presently can travel from Karunagapally to Ochira and Ochira to Kayamkulam at a speed of 100 to 110 km in the district. The bends elsewhere are time-killers.

Major disruptions in district
1) Coming from Thiruvananthapuram, there are small and big curves in seven kilometers from Edava to Paravur. At present the maximum speed of the train on this stretch is 75 kmph

2) The maximum speed limit is 30 km/h on the 'റ' shaped curve approaching Kollam railway station

3) The maximum speed is 60 km/h on the southern curve of Perumon Bridge. Maximum speed is 90 km/h in the north of the bridge

4) Maximum speed is 60 kms on the curve of Mynagappally Kallukadavu

5) A speed up to 90 kmph is possible on small bends in Sasthamkota and Karunagappally

Curve and degree
The severity of the curve of the railway track is calculated on the basis of degrees. A curve of maximum ten degrees is okay. However, can run at a maximum speed of 10 to 20 km/h in this curve. As the degree increases, the speed decreases.

In Mundrothuruthu area, the problem is not the curves but the land sinkage. Here can usually run up to 80 km but it is doubtful whether can drive this fast because of the threat of land sinkage.