Tracking the new railway proposal for Kerala

Source: The post is based on the article “Tracking the new railway proposal for Kerala”  published in The Hindu on 19th July 2023

What is the News?

Kerala has proposed a new semi-high speed train project expected as an alternative to the Silver Line project.

What is the new semi-high speed train proposed by Kerala?

The semi-high speed train will travel the 420-km Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur north-south corridor.

It will cover the distance in three and a half hours. It is expected to cruise at an average speed of 125 kmph.

It is being projected as an alternative to the Thiruvananthapuram -Kasargod Silver Line project.

Why are high speed trains a priority?

Trains in Kerala are operating at rock-bottom speed. Even express trains in the State operate at an average speed of less than 50 kmph due to frequent stops, huge number of sharp curves.

What happened to the High Speed Rail Corridor and Silverline Project?

High Speed Rail Corridor: In 2014, Kerala government entrusted the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) with the task of readying a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for a high-speed rail corridor linking Thiruvananthapuram with the northernmost district Kasaragod. But the project was considered too ambitious and costly and failed to take off.

The Silver Line project has met with massive resistance as it was to be built over a tall embankment constructed over the ground, and would have led to massive displacement of people. 

– Environmental activists and others expressed fears that this would worsen flooding in many areas, since the embankment would block natural flow of water even if drains and canals were built at intervals.