In a big development, Kerala soon to get its first-ever Vande Bharat express, the semi-high speed train that will serve from Thiruvananthapuram division. According to reports, the state will get two rakes, one unit comprising 16 passenger cars that comes with a seating capacity of 1,128.
However, the due to the existing conditions of the railway tracks in Kerala, Vande Bharat Express trains will not be able to run at the envisaged speed. Therefore, the Ministry of Railways has decided to run trains through Kerala even if the speed is reduced a little.
Specially designed Vande Bharat trains, are being built at the Chennai Integral Coach Factory. The construction of the first train will be completed by August. Vande Bharat rakes will be allotted to Chennai, Coimbatore, Tiruchirappalli and Thiruvananthapuram under the Southern Railway.
Vande Bharat Express is designed to be capable of running at a maximum speed of 200 km/h (120 mph), but the tracks on which the train operates are not capable of supporting such high speeds, hence the train is operated at a maximum speed of 130 km/h (81 mph). During the trials it achieved a record speed of 180 km/h (110 mph).This made it the fastest train to run in India and the second fastest operating train in India, behind the Gatimaan Express which operates at 160 km/h (99 mph).