The Palakkad Railway Division is undertaking a series of infrastructure enhancement projects to increase the maximum permissible speed on the Shoranur–Mangaluru rail corridor from 110 kmph to 130 kmph over the next two years. The initiative forms part of Southern Railway’s broader capacity augmentation programme aimed at improving operational efficiency, network capacity, and service reliability.
Key developments include the construction of six loop lines and four holding yards along the route to streamline train operations, enable smoother crossings and overtaking, and support higher-speed movement. The loop line at Edakkad railway station has already received approval, while proposals for five additional loop lines are currently under consideration.
To complement these works, the division is implementing double distance signalling, renewing more than 250 km of railway tracks, installing protective fencing at vulnerable stretches, and upgrading railway overbridges and station yards. A significant share of the speed enhancement works has already been completed.
The infrastructure improvements are expected to ease congestion on the busy corridor by increasing its capacity to handle additional passenger and freight services while enhancing punctuality, safety, and overall operational performance.