The Silver Line is a proposed high-speed rail line in India that would run between Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala's capital, and Kasaragod. It will run at a speed of 200 kilometres per hour, [Maximum Design Speed: 220 kilometres per hour (137 miles per hour), (structures built for 250 kilometres per hour (155 miles per hour)] allowing trains to travel the 532-kilometer (331-mile) trip in less than four hours, as opposed to the current time of 10 to 12 hours.
Kerala is separated into three regions: Southern Kerala, Central Kerala, and Northern Kerala, despite the fact that it is a linear state with a population of only 3.45 crores. Roads are congested, and the presence of residential and business establishments along key highways makes road development a big dream that will not be realised anytime soon.
Because the existing rail corridor only allows trains to travel at a slow 45 km/h, the Kerala government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Railways, has decided to build a 529.45 km long semi-high-speed rail corridor connecting Thiruvanathapuram and Kasargode that will take only 4 hours to travel between the two cities while travelling at a dream speed of 200 km/h.
K-Rail expects a ridership of 67,740 passengers a day. It estimates to carry 1,330 travellers in one direction at peak hours. For meeting the expenses of the ₹66,079 crore (US$8.7 billion) project, ₹34,454 crore (US$4.5 billion) will come as loans. The Centre and state will need to provide ₹7,720 crore (US$1.0 billion) each. The Kerala government will spend ₹8,656 crore (US$1.1 billion) on land acquisition and allied matters. The rest of the expenses will be met through other loans by the union and state governments. The rail line will pass through 11 of the state's 14 districts, and will stop at ten stations. Up its northward course from Thiruvananthapuram, these stations will be Kollam, Chengannur, Kottayam, Kochi, Kochi Airport, Thrissur, Tirur, Kozhikode and Kannur before reaching Kasaragod. The SilverLine corridor will be 100% green project. K-Rail is set to adopt last-mile connectivity, with multi-modal integration, system-driven e-vehicle public transport system, charging as well as parking stations, which would take the state to next generation of urban mobility. The project will also adopt the latest world-class rail system technology like signalling system of ERTMS level-2 with automatic train control system, ticketing, communication, fully air-conditioned rolling stock with modern passenger amenities. The main depot for the line will be located near the Kochuveli terminus.