Massive makeover for Jan Shatabdi in Kerala; With effect from September 29

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Jan Shatabdi trains have been one of the most preferred trains in Kerala for a long time. Two Jan Shatabdi trains are operating on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kozhikode route and the Kannur-Thiruvananthapuram route. As an Onam gift to Malayalees, all the coaches of one of these trains are being converted into LHBs. This change is taking place on the Kannur-Thiruvananthapuram Janshatabdi.

The LHB coaches are operated using German technology. These are stainless steel coaches. The new coaches will be used on the services from Thiruvananthapuram from September 29 and the return service from Kannur from September 30. Passengers have been complaining about the coaches in the Kannur-Thiruvananthapuram Jan Shatabdi for a long time. The railway authorities had once resolved the problems in the coaches which were in poor condition.

In addition to shifting to LHB coaches, the demand to make this train a daily service was also put forward, but it was not accepted. Railway officials said a change to LHB coach is expected in the Thiruvananthapuram-Kozhikode Janshatabdi train by the next financial year. Apart from this, the railways are also considering changing the coaches of Ernakulam-Bengaluru Intercity. There is a strong demand for new coaches for trains like Malabar, Maveli and Parasuram.