Kerala to receive new Vande Bharat Rakes as Diwali gift

Thiruvananthapuram: Indian Railways is set to enhance Kerala's rail connectivity with new rakes for the Vande Bharat trains, a development seen as a Diwali gift from Prime Minister Narendra Modi that aims to boost travel efficiency and comfort in the state, sources confirmed today.

Currently, Kerala has two Vande Bharat train routes: Thiruvananthapuram to Mangalore and Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod. The Mangalore route, which presently runs with eight coaches, will soon double to 16, while the Kasargod train, currently operating with 16 coaches, will expand to 20. This upgrade is expected to significantly improve passenger capacity and service on these popular routes.

The trains have significantly reduced travel time, with the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore route now taking just 8 hours and 35 minutes, compared to 12 hours and 50 minutes and 15 hours for other trains.

Since their launch, these high-speed, state-of-the-art trains have seen tremendous success, consistently running at full capacity. Despite higher ticket prices, passengers continue to prefer this faster travel option. Building on this success, a third Vande Bharat train was also introduced, operating thrice weekly from Bengaluru to Kochi.

A businessman and frequent Vande Bharat passenger shared his experience, noting that the train has greatly improved his travel across the state. “Given the nature of my business, I have to visit sites all over Kerala. I used to drive everywhere, starting from the state capital. Now, I rarely use my car. I book train tickets in advance, sometimes a month ahead. It’s a huge blessing for me,” he said, preferring to remain anonymous.

Others have also expressed similar satisfaction. The Vande Bharat trains continue to be the fastest travel option on all their routes, with the New Delhi Varanasi line holding the record for the highest average speed at 95 km/hour.

(IANS with edits)