Station upgrade at Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station expected to boost northbound traffic.

Thiruvananthapuram North Railway Station (Kochuveli) is gearing up for a significant surge in passenger traffic as train operations are gradually being shifted from Thiruvananthapuram Central Railway Station, which is currently undergoing a ₹439-crore redevelopment under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme.

With renovation work progressing at the central station, railway authorities have begun upgrading facilities at Kochuveli to accommodate the expected increase in footfall.

Among the first additions planned are dormitory facilities, including separate halls for men and women with fixed beds operating round the clock at affordable tariffs. These are aimed primarily at families and solo travellers awaiting connecting trains.

Additional food courts are also being developed to replace the station’s limited canteen facilities, in anticipation of a higher volume of long-distance passengers.

Connectivity to Kochuveli has long been a concern, with passengers currently relying on infrequent bus services and a limited availability of taxis and autorickshaws, especially during late-night and early-morning hours. Railway officials said discussions are underway with Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) to increase bus services and improve last-mile connectivity around the station.

Security arrangements are also being strengthened, with plans to deploy additional CCTV cameras and increase the presence of Railway Protection Force personnel ahead of the expected rise in crowd levels.

Despite the planned upgrades, passengers and rail activists have pointed to persistent challenges such as inadequate parking, congestion on approach roads, and insufficient waiting areas, which could strain the station’s capacity to handle traffic comparable to Thiruvananthapuram Central.

Railway sources said more train services are likely to be progressively diverted through Kochuveli as redevelopment work at the central station intensifies, potentially making it one of the busiest railway hubs in the state during the transition period. “Renovation and expansion are being carried out keeping passenger safety in mind,” a railway source said.