The proposed bullet train on Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram route got a boost on Friday with a Japanese study team submitting a positive interim report to Railway Ministry. Railways had engaged Japan Railway Technical Service for pre-feasibility study for the 850km long Chennai–Bangalore-Coimbatore–Ernakulam-Thiruvananthapuram route.
“The study is in progress and the consultant has submitted the interim report. They presented the report with technical details which are encouraging," said a senior railway Ministry official involved with the bullet train project. While it is clear that a high-speed corridor between Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram is technically feasible, the Japanese will submit the next report with costing and financial details.
Railways' proposal to set up high speed rail authority to run trains at 300km per hour speed on seven selected routes has generated a lot of interest among global players. Chennai-Thiruvananthapuram route is one of the five corridors that have been selected by the Railways for conducting studies.