E Sreedharan Unveils Kerala High-Speed Rail Route

02 Mar 2026 CW Team

The line is proposed to originate at Thiruvananthapuram Central and to pass through Thiruvananthapuram Airport via tunnel, Varkala, Kollam, Kottarakkara, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla, Kottayam, Vaikom, Ernakulam, Nedumbassery, Thrissur, Pattambi, Malappuram, Karipur, Kozhikode, Koyilandy, Vadakara, Thalassery and Kannur. Stations have been planned at intervals of 20–30 km to ensure regional access and the corridor will link the three major airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Nedumbassery and Kannur to strengthen multimodal integration. Solar farms at stations are to be deployed to supply energy for operations, with the cost of generation included in project estimates.

The project has been designed with a maximum speed of 200 kmph while the commercial operating speed has been fixed at 140 kmph and the operational top speed is expected to reach 180 kmph in select stretches. The Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur journey is projected to take three hours and 20 minutes, offering a marked reduction in travel time compared with existing rail services. Operations are expected to prioritise speed and reliability to attract commuters away from slower services.

The estimated construction cost for the first phase is Rs56,500 crore, equivalent to 565 billion (bn), and revisions to earlier projections have reduced the overall estimate. The service is projected to attract half a million (0.5 mn) passengers on an average day, according to the presentation. Proposed fares for the corridor were outlined with a Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam fare of Rs440, Thiruvananthapuram to Kozhikode of Rs640 and Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur of Rs780, with the fare structure presented as more affordable than current Vande Bharat services in the state. Further studies and clearances were said to be required before construction can commence.

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E Sreedharan unveiled details of a proposed Kerala high-speed rail corridor at a press conference in Ponnani, presenting a revised alignment that includes Pathanamthitta district and will feature 20 stations along a 465 km corridor. A dedicated team has been constituted to advance project implementation and take forward detailed planning. The announcement framed the project as aiming to strengthen regional connectivity across the state. The line is proposed to originate at Thiruvananthapuram Central and to pass through Thiruvananthapuram Airport via tunnel, Varkala, Kollam, Kottarakkara, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla, Kottayam, Vaikom, Ernakulam, Nedumbassery, Thrissur, Pattambi, Malappuram, Karipur, Kozhikode, Koyilandy, Vadakara, Thalassery and Kannur. Stations have been planned at intervals of 20–30 km to ensure regional access and the corridor will link the three major airports at Thiruvananthapuram, Nedumbassery and Kannur to strengthen multimodal integration. Solar farms at stations are to be deployed to supply energy for operations, with the cost of generation included in project estimates. The project has been designed with a maximum speed of 200 kmph while the commercial operating speed has been fixed at 140 kmph and the operational top speed is expected to reach 180 kmph in select stretches. The Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur journey is projected to take three hours and 20 minutes, offering a marked reduction in travel time compared with existing rail services. Operations are expected to prioritise speed and reliability to attract commuters away from slower services. The estimated construction cost for the first phase is Rs56,500 crore, equivalent to 565 billion (bn), and revisions to earlier projections have reduced the overall estimate. The service is projected to attract half a million (0.5 mn) passengers on an average day, according to the presentation. Proposed fares for the corridor were outlined with a Thiruvananthapuram to Ernakulam fare of Rs440, Thiruvananthapuram to Kozhikode of Rs640 and Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur of Rs780, with the fare structure presented as more affordable than current Vande Bharat services in the state. Further studies and clearances were said to be required before construction can commence.

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