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Soon you can enjoy a joy ride in a mini train modelled in the form of a vintage steam engine at Veli in Thiruvananthapuram. The mini train, which is part of the Veli Miniature Railway project of Kerala Tourism in the Veli Tourist Village, is nearing completion. Once implemented, the project of Kerala Tourism will be a shot in the arm for Veli, one of the sought-after picnic spots in Kerala’s capital, as it will add new exciting entertainment opportunities to kids as well as adults.
The mini train which has an approximate length of 70 ft. will start its journey from the railway station set up near the KTDC restaurant in Veli and cover a distance of 2.2 km up and down. To give a vintage appeal, artificial fumes will be emitted. It will snake through the lush environs of Veli, over a 70 m rail bridge through a tunnel and take the travellers to the many sights of the scenic village.
In all, 48 persons along with two members of the staff can be accommodated at a time on the train. The train has three coaches, each with four coupes, with each one capable of accommodating four individuals. The duration of one round trip would be about 20 minutes. Although the train can run at a speed of 15 km per hour, it will be operated at a speed of 5-10 km per hour considering safety parameters.
The train will have a stop at Pozhikkara, a new station that has been set up as a part of the project. Passengers can alight here and spend time horse riding or take part in the games and other entertainment activities.
While the mini train will be powered by battery as well as solar energy, the rest of the components of the project such as the railway station, lighting and so forth will use solar power exclusively. The battery-powered mini-train has solar panels that will generate additional energy. Mini train will be ready for trial run after one month's work, according to sources. The technical assistance for the project is being given by Quilon Miniature Railway and once completed, it will be operated by the Kerala State Tourfed, the apex body of the federation of the tourism cooperative societies under the Government of Kerala.
