Kerala expects the central budget to approve funding for the ultra-modern Vande Bharat railway, which will go at up to 160 km/h. Vande Bharat is an alternative system to Kerala’s much discussed Silver Line. Vande Bharat can run from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam in just two and a half hours. There is also a lot of hope given to Kerala by the plan to complete the curves in the current railway line. When tilting trains are built for Vandebharat, they will also be allowed for Kerala.
Silver Line’s Alternative
An alternate solution to Kerala’s widely publicised Silver Line is called Vande Bharat. In about two and a half hours, Vande Bharat can run from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam.
Kerala has a great deal of hope as a result of the intention to finish the curves in the current railway line. When tilting trains are constructed for Vandebharat, Kerala will also be able to use them.
Luxury Travel
Vande Bharat provides affordable luxury travel. Comfortable rides are made possible by reclining seats. Tea and free snacks are provided so you can satisfy your hunger while travelling.The luxury coach’s seating arrangement and ability to rotate the seats up to 180 degrees make it easy to soak in the scenery outside. The anti-skid mechanism, which keeps the train from derailing, ensures that safety is never compromised. CCTV cameras are installed in every coach. Two of the sixteen coaches are executive coaches.
Vande Bharath Pathway
Routes to Kannur, Bengaluru, Mangaluru, and Chennai are being considered from Thiruvananthapuram. The budget may also include news of the “Rail Bypass” project, which will smooth out the bends in Kerala’s railway lines and make room for Vandebharat. Soon, 200 long-distance Vande Bharat trains with sleeping coaches will be constructed. Additionally, building a rail bypass for these trains that is capable of 160 kmph.In the budget, 300 Vande Bharat trains, including one for Kerala, may be announced.
From Mangalore to Kanyakumari, the state administration intends to permit Vandebharat. Tamil Nadu has proposed the Chennai-Kanyakumari Vande Bharat. If the Kanyakumari-Thiruvananthapuram dual carriageway is built, it can be extended to Thiruvananthapuram. When KN Balagopal, the state’s finance minister, met with the union’s finance minister, he asked him to include a Vande Bharat announcement in the federal budget to support point-to-point connectivity within the state and with other states nearby.
Speed
With the arrival of Vande Bharat, which will be capable of 160 km/h top speeds, it will replace the Silver Line project. Railways has begun taking action to enhance train speeds in Kerala to 160 kmph.The speed of trains can be boosted by straightening curves and bolstering culverts and bridges. It doesn’t take up a lot of room. The deadline for submissions for the lidar survey is January 31. Before March 2025, the first phase of the speed increase will be finished, and trains with fewer stops will be able to travel from Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam in two and a half hours.
On the curvy route in Kerala, Vande bharat trains will go at an average speed of 110 km/h. The main goal is to get 75 trains running by the end of August. The coach manufacturers at Rae Bareli, Kapurthala, and Chennai are building 44 trains.There will be 100 tilting Vandebharat trains out of 400 brand-new ones. Once they are constructed for Vandebharat, tilting trains will be permitted to travel through Kerala without having to slow down for curves.
Cost
A train’s construction costs 130 crores. Vande Bharat Sleeper Coach production has begun at Chennai’s Integral Coach Factory.
35 years of maintenance and the construction of 200 trains are covered under a 58,000 crore contract.The Railways has so far given out contracts to build 102 Vande Bharat trains. They are all chair cars. By 2026, the Ministry of Railways hopes to export Vande Bharat trains to South Africa and European nations. Vande Bharat sleeper service is scheduled to begin in 2024.Regardless, the current Vande Bharat trains are comfortable and safe to travel on
This distinguishes Vande Bharat from other trains:
- India’s indigenously developed ‘shield sensor’ system to avoid collisions
- Coaches don’t catch fire
- Safe enough that passengers will not be affected by the explosion
- It can reach 100 kmph in 52 seconds
- Wi-Fi and TV systems for infotainment in all coaches
- Dust free fresh air cooling system
- Side Recliner Seat
- 180 degree swivel seat in executive coach
- Ultraviolet air purification system for disinfection
- All coaches will be secured by CCTV
