Kerala demands increase in number of coaches for state's Vande Bharat train

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala's Minister V. Abdurahiman has written to the Union Railway Minister requesting an increase in the number of coaches for the state's second Vande Bharat Express. The train (20631/20632), which operates between Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram—departing from Mangaluru in the morning and returning from Thiruvananthapuram in the evening—currently has only eight coaches. In contrast, the Vande Bharat Express running between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod has 20 coaches. Initially, this train had 16 coaches, but the number was increased following a request from the state.

The eight coaches on the Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat are highly insufficient due to the high demand. Currently, obtaining a reservation on this train is extremely difficult. As a result, there has been a strong public demand to increase the number of coaches. This is also a highly profitable route for the Railways. Minister V. Abdurahiman mentioned in his letter that he had personally raised this request with the Union Railway Minister during a prior discussion on the issue.