Vande Bharat trains not an alternative to K-Rail, says Kerala Rail Development Corporation
India Today
The statement by K-Rail says that the existing railway network in Kerala needs to be upgraded to make it fit to run Vande Bharat Trains. As many as 626 curves need to be straightened at high capital cost, the statement said.
Amidst claims that Vande Bharat trains could be an alternative to Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (K-Rail), K-Rail has come out with a statement denying such claims.
K-Rail is a joint venture company under the Kerala government and the Ministry of Railways, Government of India, set up to complement the Indian Railways in augmenting the Railway Infrastructure within Kerala.
The statement by K-Rail goes on to explain that while Vande Bharat trains can run at a speed of 160 kmph, the tracks in Kerala have only a maximum sectional speed varying between 80 kmph and 110 kmph.
“Vande Bharat trains can only achieve the same running time of trains like Jan Shatabdi and Rajdhani in Kerala, which are the fastest trains now running in the state. A 10% reduction of time will be possible due to the EMU-type coaches of Vande Bharat trains that can accelerate and decelerate quickly,” said the statement.
It went on to add that the existing railway network in Kerala will need to be upgraded to make it fit to run Vande Bharat trains.
“As many as 626 curves totalling 36% of the length of existing tracks will have to be straightened at very high capital cost. This may take up to 10-20 years,” it said.
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