THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DIVISION ACCELERATES LOOP LINE UPGRADATION TO MAIN LINE STANDARDS FOR HIGHER SPEED TRAIN OPERATIONS 

Thiruvananthapuram Division of Southern Railways has put special emphasis on increasing the operational speed of trains and adopting more advanced safety measures, for the financial year 2025-2026. In a recent divisional level meeting, for setting up the goals and objectives for the current financial year, detailed deliberations were done to increase the average speed of trains. 

Advance inputs are being given in the track structures, rolling stock, signaling and traffic systems. These measures include both the adoption of newer technologies as well as improved maintenance standards. In the review meeting, the operational constraint of many of the stations having the main Platform/Platform-1 on the loop line was discussed. The railway safety guidelines as per layout allows lower speed while traversing the loop line, as compared to main line. A decision has been taken to adopt maintenance standards of the main line for the loop line also. It is targeted that loop lines are upgraded to the main line standards before September. Action has already been taken on 31 such stations. Further, it has been decided that, replacement of existing switches with Thick Web Switches (TWS). The TWS have a more robust design and are amenable for speed upto 50 kmph. 

The remaining stations will be taken up in the second phase and the work of upgrading the loop line is expected to be complete before the stipulated target date. Similarly, a specialized track machine known as the AMECA T-28 has been deployed in the Division for replacing with thick web switches. About 70 numbers of thick web switches have already been inserted in track and it is planned to replace 100 numbers in the coming months. 

The above steps are of simultaneous and natural progression since the infrastructural inputs by way of provision of automatic block signaling and renewal of rails to 60 kg type are already in place. The Division has already upgraded the maximum permissible speed of trains in the various sections by easing out curves. In the current scenario this exercise is limited to those curves which can be eased without acquisition of land. 

The execution of the above measures will help more number of trains in achieving the maximum permissible speed, thereby improving both safety and punctuality.