- PM Modi is expected to flag off three Amrit Bharat trains for Kerala on Friday.
- New routes will connect Kerala with Chennai’s Tambaram and Hyderabad’s Charlapalli terminals.
- Passengers have raised concerns over longer travel durations on certain routes.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to visit Thiruvananthapuram on Friday, where he is likely to flag off Amrit Bharat trains for Kerala, along with a new passenger train service from Guruvayur to Thrissur. The move is aimed at improving long-distance rail connectivity for the state.
While the introduction of Amrit Bharat trains has been positioned as a step toward more comfortable and modern rail travel, the announcement has triggered mixed reactions among rail users in Kerala.
New Connectivity to Chennai and Hyderabad
According to Southern Railway, the new Amrit Bharat services will connect Kerala to major transport hubs such as Tambaram, one of Tamil Nadu’s busiest suburban and transit terminals, and Charlapalli, a rapidly developing terminal in Telangana.
Railway officials said the Thiruvananthapuram–Tambaram Amrit Bharat train would strengthen links between Kerala’s capital and the Chennai metropolitan region. The Hyderabad connection is seen as particularly significant, as Kerala currently has only one daily train from Thiruvananthapuram to Secunderabad.
Concerns Over Travel Time on Nagercoil–Mangaluru Route
Despite the expanded connectivity, passengers have raised concerns about the scheduling and travel time of one of the Amrit Bharat services on the Nagercoil–Mangaluru route.
As per the proposed timetable, the train will depart Nagercoil at 11:40 am on Tuesdays and reach Mangaluru Junction at 5 am the following day. On the return journey, it will leave Mangaluru Junction at 8 am on Wednesdays and reach Nagercoil at 10:05 pm the same day.
Rail users have questioned why a premium category train would take nearly 17 hours to cover the route.
Comparison With Existing Express Services
Passengers pointed out that the Tirunelveli–Jamnagar Express already covers the same stretch much faster. That train departs Nagercoil at 9:24 am and reaches Mangaluru by 9:55 pm on the same day, completing the journey in about 12.5 hours.
“A premium service like Amrit Bharat should not take longer than existing express trains,” commuters said, urging the Railways to revisit the timetable.
Expectations From Amrit Bharat Trains
Indian Railways has promoted Amrit Bharat trains as a cost-effective alternative offering improved seating, modern amenities and enhanced passenger comfort for long-distance travel. However, passengers in Kerala say the success of the new services will depend not just on facilities, but also on efficient scheduling and competitive travel times.
With the formal flag-off expected on Friday, rail users are hopeful that operational adjustments will be made to ensure the new trains deliver on their promise of faster and more practical connectivity.
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