The Silver Line is also known as Thiruvananthapuram–Kasargode Semi High-Speed Rail Corridor is the 1st proposed semi high-speed rail Silver Line project double-track green railway corridor of Kerala state.
Project Summary
- Project Name: Thiruvananthapuram–Kasargode Semi High-Speed Rail Corridor (Silver Line)
- Project Owner: Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (K-Rail)
- DPR Consultant: SYSTRA MVA
- Project Cost: Rs 63,941 crore (Rs 639.4 billion)
- Length: 531.45 km
- No. of Tracks: Two (Standard Guage)
- No. of Stations: 10
- Total Journey Hours: 3 Hours 52 Minutes
- Ticket Price: Rs 1,463 one way (Rs 2.75 per km with 7.5% annual hike)
- Ridership: Approx. 80,000 passenger per day
- Project Deadline: 2025
Silver Line Semi High-Speed Rail Network
- Network Length: 541.45 km
- No. of Stations: 10
- Station Names: Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Tirur, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasargode.
Rolling Stock
- No. of Coaches – 9/12
- Speed – 200 km/h
- Traction – 25KV AC
- Signalling – ERTMS level-2
Silver Line Project Funding Pattern
- Government of Kerala – 20%
- Ministry of Railways – 20%
- External Agency – 60%
Major Contract Awarded
- Systra MVA: DPR Consultant
- GeoKno India Private Limited: LiDAR and Geotechnical Investigation Work
- Tender floated for providing consultancy services for Land and Transit-Oriented Development of Kerala Semi High-Speed Rail project on January 17, 2020.
Timeline
- May 2019: Paris based firm Systra MVA submitted survey report of Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragode Semi high-speed rail corridor with an estimated cost of Rs 56,443 crore to Government of Kerala.
- December 2019: Government of Kerala named the Semi-High Speed Rail Project as ‘Silver Line’.
- January 2020: GeoKno India Private Limited completed the LiDAR and Geotechnical survey report of the project. The State Government had decided to set up land acquisition cells in 10 districts to acquire about 1,226.45 hectares land for the project.
- February 2020: Systra submitted the detailed project and alignment report of Silver Line with an estimated cost of Rs 63,941 crore.
- April 2020: K-Rail Board approved the detailed project and alignment report of the project.
About K-Rail
Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (K-Rail) is a Joint Venture Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) company of Government of Kerala and Ministry of Railways formed for the Infrastructure Development of Railways in Kerala.
The ambitious, semi-high speed rail project K-Rail ‘Silver Line’ approved from the Kerala government. The project expected deadline will be 2025.
The travel time will decrease from its northern tip, Kasargod district – the southernmost district Thiruvananthapuram by just 4 hrs from 12 hrs using the current Indian Railway trains.
Some Key Highlights:
- From – Thiruvananthapuram to Kasargod
- Total Distance – 531 km
- Operation Speed – 180-200 kmph
- No. of coaches – 9
- Total Station – 11
- Train Classes – Business & Standard
Major Contractor
- Japan International Corporation Agency (JICA)
- German state-owned bank KfW Group
- Asian Development Bank (ADB)
- Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)