Kerala's popular Jan Shatabdi, Sabari Express to get major facelift

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Jan Shatabdi Express and Sabari Express, the most preferred trains of Malayalees, still operate with coaches that are decades old. Loyal passengers of this train have long been demanding new coaches for better comfort. It seems like those demands are on its way to become a reality.

Thiruvananthapuram-Kozhikode Jan Shatabdi and Thiruvananthapuram-Secunderabad, Sabari Express will soon be converted to new LHB coaches. The tracks on the Thiruvananthapuram-Ernakulam route were recently renovated to allow trains to travel at a maximum speed of 100 km/h. After this, major trains like Jan Shatabdi and Sabari will be converted to Linke-Hofmann-Busch (LHB) coaches. LHB coaches are specially built for safe and comfortable travel.

These coaches, built using German technology, can reach a maximum speed of 160 kilometres per hour. The Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur Jan Shatabdi under the Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division had recently switched to LHB coaches. However, there were widespread complaints about the seats in these coaches. LHB coaches have already been installed in most of the ultra-long-distance trains in the Thiruvananthapuram division. Made of stainless steel, LHB coaches offer superior safety and seats with good legroom. Initially imported directly from Germany, such coaches have been manufactured in India since 2000.