The Nemom railway terminal in Thiruvananthapuram is expected to be commissioned by the end of March 2027, with nearly 70% of Phase 1 work completed and the new facility positioned to reduce pressure on Thiruvananthapuram Central.
A railway official associated with the construction told the Times of India that the main building structure was nearing completion, while the terminal’s pit lines and stabling lines were also progressing. “We are working towards commissioning the terminal by the end of March 2027,” the official said.
The terminal is planned with four platforms and five tracks, including a stabling line. Its passenger facilities will include ticket counters, toilets, cloakrooms and waiting lounges. An approach road is also being developed as part of the project.
One of the terminal’s notable features will be a subway connecting platforms two, three and four. Unlike the foot overbridges used by passengers at many stations, the subway is intended to provide an alternative route between platforms. Lifts and escalators are also being installed to assist elderly passengers and people with mobility difficulties.
According to railway sources, the tracks within the terminal are expected to be completed by the end of January 2027. Staff recruitment for operating the terminal is targeted for March 2027, ahead of the proposed commissioning deadline.
The project is expected to support the redistribution of train operations in the capital. The railways is considering shifting selected long-distance services, particularly northbound trains, to Nemom. These trains are expected to retain a halt at Thiruvananthapuram Central so that passengers travelling to the city are not inconvenienced.
A final decision on train allocation and scheduling is expected in the first quarter of 2027. The operational plan will determine how effectively the new terminal can complement Thiruvananthapuram Central rather than simply add another stop to the city’s rail network.
The railways is also pursuing a second phase estimated to cost around Rs 99 crore. The proposal has been examined by Southern Railway’s finance department and is expected to be forwarded to the Railway Board for approval. It includes two additional pit lines for train maintenance and three stabling lines, which would increase the terminal’s capacity to handle and maintain long-distance trains.
There have been demands to extend services currently terminating at Thiruvananthapuram North, also known as Kochuveli, to Nemom. These include the Mysuru and Nilambur services. Proposals have also been made for Vande Bharat sleeper services from Nemom to Chennai, Mumbai and Bengaluru. The supplied report does not indicate that these services have been approved.
The proposal to develop Nemom as a coaching terminal dates back several years. Its foundation stone was laid in March 2019, but land acquisition issues and changes to the project plan delayed execution. The revised project was sanctioned in April 2023 at an estimated cost of Rs 116.57 crore. Phase 1 includes the station building, platforms, pit lines, stabling facilities, service buildings and the approach road.
The next major milestones are the completion of the terminal tracks by January 2027, staff recruitment by March and the Railway Board’s decision on the proposed second phase and future train allocation.
