Prime Minister Narendra Modi To Flag Off Kerala's First Vande Bharat Express On 25 April, Route Extends To Kasaragod

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is set to launch Kerala's first Vande Bharat Express on 25 April.

Train was originally planned to run Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur route. The route is now extended and will run till Kasaragod, as per the request made by Union Minister V Muraleedharan, said Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw.

Vaishnaw announced the extension of Kerala's first Vande Bharat Express to Kasaragod to reporters in Kerala.

Railways in Kerala will upgrade tracks in three phases, according to the minister's statement.

The government has authorised a budget of Rs 381 crore to upgrade the whole Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram track for a top speed of 110 kmph during Phase I, which will take 18 months.

The track's second phase will take 2-3.5 years to accomplish, including straightening turns and necessary modifications. After completion, the track's speed potential will increase to 130 kmph.

Vaishnaw also said another Vande Bharat Express from Kasaragod to Thiruvananthapuram will become a reality in the coming months, reports The New Indian Express. 

On 17 April, the Vande Bharat Express completed its first successful trial run, covering a distance of 480 km between Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur in seven hours and 10 minutes.

Currently, the fastest train on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur route is the Rajdhani Express. Other essential trains on the same route include the Jan Shatabdi Express and Maveli Express, which take approximately nine hours and 20 minutes and ten hours, respectively.

“Our goal is to connect every State by Vande Bharat trains by the end of May this year,” said Vaishnaw.

More Vande Bharat Express trains will be introduced in Kerala, according to the minister, who currently allocated one train.