Venad Express passengers, good news: 10 new high-capacity coaches from October 9

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Southern Railway will add 10 new high-capacity LWS coaches to the Venad Express from October 9 to ease the severe overcrowding faced by thousands of daily passengers in Kerala. The existing coaches have a seating capacity of 108 passengers and can accommodate 42 standing passengers. The new LWS coaches will have space for 220 seated passengers and 80 standing passengers, significantly increasing the train’s passenger capacity.

As part of the first phase, 10 new coaches will be introduced from October 9. The number will be increased to 14 from October 15 in the second phase. The addition of the new coaches will enable more than 2,100 additional passengers to travel on the Venad Express at a time. The Venad Express currently operates with 19 coaches, with the new LWS coaches to be introduced in phases.

BJP national executive member P K Krishnadas announced the decision in a press release. He said the Union Railway Minister had assured a BJP delegation that an additional train service, apart from the Venad Express, could be considered if the travel difficulties persist despite the introduction of the new coaches. The Railway Ministry’s intervention follows a representation submitted by a BJP delegation led by state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar during a meeting with the Union Railway Minister.