According to ‘Friends on Rail’, a WhatsApp network that helps railway passengers, a third and fourth railway line parallel to the existing railway lines in Kerala is most necessary to solve the travel problems in the state.
The organization called on all elected representatives to work together on the implementation of the third and fourth railway lines. The capital-intensive high-speed rail project is likely to take some time due to economic and regional challenges in the state.
On the other hand, a “third railway line” parallel to the existing lines can be considered as an immediate solution. Since no construction activity is allowed within 35 m of the existing railway line, land acquisition will not be a major problem in many areas. It is also estimated that about 70% of the new track could be laid on railway land, which would significantly reduce the cost of the project, they said in a statement.
With the completion of the third parallel track, premium and superfast trains will be able to reach higher speeds and travel time could be significantly reduced. It would also help run more MEMU and passenger services, benefiting common passengers and contributing to the overall development of the state. The relatively low cost of the project compared to the cost of new lines in different terrains could help avoid significant price increases. In addition, operating costs could also be reduced by utilizing existing security systems and railway staff, the statement said.
At present, the capacity utilization of railway lines in Kerala is almost 100%, leaving very little scope for introducing new services. Problems like lack of platforms and other problems at the main stations in the district headquarters can be solved by constructing new tracks, the statement said.
Published – 05 March 2026 20:28 IST
