New Delhi: Minister of Railways Ashwini Vaishnaw on Thursday, December 5 informed the Lok Sabha about updates on Kollam-Schenkotta railway line. In a written replay to questions raised by Revolutionary Socialist Party MP N. K. Premachandran from Kollam, Minister gave the details.

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Premachandran inquired to Minister; whether the Government proposes to utilise the Kollam – Schenkotta railway line in its full capacity, what is the total amount spent by the Railways for gauge conversion, electrification, station development and other development activities on said railway line during the past ten years, whether the Government proposes to increase the number of coaches of trains running on said route, whether the Government proposes to increase the speed of the trains through Kollam–Schenkotta route and whether the Government proposes to introduce new trains through said railway route.

“With a view to optimally utilise the line capacity of the Kollam-Sengottai sector, 10 Mail/Express and 06 passenger trains are presently being operated. Besides, three pairs of train services serving the sector have been augmented to 18 coaches, by addition of coaches,” Minister informed Lok Sabha.

Adding further, Minister said that the introduction of new trains, speeding up of services and attachment of coaches are a continuing processes on Indian Railways and are subjected to factors including traffic pattern, operational feasibility and availability of resources.

“Kollam – Punalur – Bhagavathipuram – Sengottai section has large number of sharp curves,” Minister has said.

Total expenditure for gauge conversion of Kollam-Sengottai section including electrification, and station is Rs. 419.42 crore, he added.

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The Kollam–Sengottai section is part of the Kollam–Chennai metre-gauge rail route commissioned by the British during 1904. From coal-powered trains it got later replaced by electric locomotives. On June 9, 2022, the first electric train on the Kollam-Punalur route got introduced and On July 27, 2024, the electric train also began running on the Punalur-Schenkotta railway route.