Union Minister of State for External Affairs, V Muraleedharan, has revealed that Kerala is set to receive over 400 Vande Bharat Express trains, in addition to the 34 currently in operation.
This announcement was made as the second Vande Bharat Express train in Kerala was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an online ceremony, departing from Kasaragod.
Muraleedharan expressed his joy at the launch of the semi-high-speed train, one of nine such trains introduced across India. When asked if Kerala would see more such trains, he affirmed, "Surely. There are 34 trains now. More than 400 are yet to come."
Onboard the new train were Chairman of Indian Railways' Passenger Amenities Committee (PAC), P K Krishnadas, Kerala Minister for Sports, Wakf and Haj Pilgrimage, Posts and Telegraph, V Abdurahiman, and BJP state president K Surendran.
Abdurahiman explained that while additional stations couldn't be added to the route of the first Vande Bharat Express to maintain travel time, the Union Railway Minister assured them that the second train would connect Alappuzha and Malappuram, with a stop at Tirur station.
K Surendran praised the launch of the second Vande Bharat Express, stating it was a blessing for the people of Kerala and would contribute to the state's development and the Railways' progress. He noted that many states had not received two Vande Bharat trains, and some important states had not received even one.
The new Vande Bharat Express featured a fresh orange-grey colour scheme, unlike the blue-white of the first one, and comprised eight coaches, half the number of the previous train. Additionally, the new route included a new station, Tirur, while the Kottayam route has been changed to Alappuzha route.
Service for the second train was set to commence on September 26, operating from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. Starting on September 27, it would run from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod and back, with no service on Mondays for maintenance.
The introduction of these new Vande Bharat Express trains, equipped with world-class amenities and advanced safety features, was seen as a significant step in providing modern, fast, and comfortable travel options for various segments of the population, including professionals, students, and tourists.
Kerala's first Vande Bharat Express was inaugurated by PM Modi in April from Thiruvananthapuram.