Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur in just 200 minutes: All you need to know about E Sreedharan’s high-speed rail plan for Kerala

Kerala high speed rail corridor: Technocrat E Sreedharan has announced revised details of a proposed high-speed rail corridor connecting Kerala’s southern and northern regions. As per the plan, the high-speed railway line will run from Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kannur, covering around 465 km in just 200 minutes (3 hours 20 minutes). ## Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kannur high-speed rail project According to Sreedharan, popularly known as the Metroman, the proposed Kerala High-Speed Rail (KHSR) project is planned to provide connectivity to all three airports in the state. However, for Kannur Airport, he noted that dedicated electric vans will link the airport with the nearest high-speed rail station. ## Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kannur HSR corridor: Project cost As per the proposed plan, the Thiruvananthapuram Central-Kannur high-speed rail corridor is estimated to cost around Rs 54,000 crore. However, Sreedharan projected that with a five-year construction timeline and an assumed annual inflation rate of 2 per cent, the final project cost could rise to nearly Rs 56,500 crore. ## Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kannur HSR corridor: Stations list As per the proposal, the Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kannur HSR corridor will have 20 stations, including the two terminal points. The stations are planned at an average distance of 20-30 km to ensure wider coverage and improved passenger accessibility across the route. ### Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kannur HSR Corridor Sl. | Station | Kms from TVM | Sl. | Station | Kms from TVM 1 | Thiruvananthapuram Central | 0 | 2 | Thiruvananthapuram Airport | 4 3 | Varkala | 41.39 | 4 | Kollam | 63.39 5 | Kottarakara | 87.39 | 6 | Pathanamthitta | 113.39 7 | Thiruvalla | 137.76 | 8 | Kottayam | 162.26 9 | Vaikom | 185.76 | 10 | Ernakulam Bye-Pass | 213.12 11 | Nedumbassery Airport | 237.06 | 12 | Thrissur | 280 13 | Pattambi | 313 | 14 | Malappuram | 343 15 | Karipur Airport | 361 | 16 | Kozhikode | 382 17 | Koyilandy | 404 | 18 | Vadakara | 425 19 | Thalassery | 446 | 20 | Kannur | 465 ## Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kannur HSR corridor: Train speed The design speed of trains on Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kannur HSR corridor will be 200 kmph and the maximum operating speed is 180 kmph. The average commercial speed, will be 140 kmph. Vande Bharat Express train takes 06:48 hrs to cover the stretch. ## Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kannur High Speed Rail Corridor: Train capacity As per the initial plan, the high-speed trains on Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kannur HSR corridor will consist of eight coaches with a total seating capacity of 560 passengers. Later, the train’s composition will be raised to 12 coaches once the capacity is reached. The train will have only Premium class. Each coach will have 3 wide doors on each side so that persons on wheel chairs or baby prams can get in and get out easily. According to Sreedharan’s plan, the HSR trains will run at an intervals of 30 minutes during peak hours and one hour during non-peak hours. “The operating hours are 6 hours to 23:15 hours. Peak hours are from 6 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 8 pm. “When this capacity is reached, the length of the train can be increased ta LZ coaches. The intervals between trains can also be brought down to 5 minutes. In that case, the total carrying capacity will be more than 5 lakhs on this line per day. There will be no catering on board as journeys are short,” the proposal reads. ## Thiruvananthapuram Central to Kannur HSR train: Ticket price According to the proposal, the starting fare of Kerala High speed rail project will be Rs 780 from Thiruvananthapuram to Kannur. The fare on the Vande Bharat Express currently running on this route is about Rs 1,280 for an AC Chair Car ticket, while the Executive Chair Car fare stands at Rs 2,435. Anish Mondal is a journalist with over nine years of experience covering the railways and roadways. Currently a member of the Indianexpress.com editorial team, Anish specializes in high-impact sectors. Professional Journey Anish began his career at the public broadcaster Rajya Sabha Television (now Sansad TV), where he developed a foundational understanding of legislative processes and national governance. In 2018, he transitioned to digital financial journalism at FinancialExpress.com, spending nearly six years refining his expertise in market trends and corporate reporting. Before joining The Indian Express in 2025, he served as a key contributor at ETNowNews.com. Education & Expertise Anish’s reporting is backed by a rigorous academic background in communication and the humanities: Master of Journalism and Mass Communication (MJMC) – Apeejay Stya University Post Graduate Diploma in Journalism and Production (PGTVRJP) – Apeejay Institute of Mass Communication Bachelor of Arts (English Honours) – University of Calcutta Areas of Coverage Connectivity: Detailed reporting on the expansion of Indian Railways and National Highway networks. ... Read More