THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Railways has decided to add one second-class general coach each in eight trains to solve the train travel woes in the state. The speed of three trains, including two passenger trains, has been increased. It became effective from yesterday. Kerala Kaumudi had reported earlier about the extreme suffering of train passengers.

One general coach each has been added to the to and fro services of Vanchinad, Venad, Kannur - Alappuzha Executive and Ernakulam - Kannur Intercity services. It will be implemented by tomorrow and the day after. The speed of Alappuzha - Ernakulam and Ernakulam - Kayamkulam passengers has been increased by 20 minutes each and the speed of Venad by 10 minutes. Coaches have not been added to Palaruvi and Parasuram trains, which have high passenger traffic.

The Railways denied the allegation that it is the Vandebharat service that has caused the train travel woes in Kerala. Some trains were delayed due to continuous rain and waterlogging in Kochuveli and landslides in Thiruvananthapuram - Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram - Nagercoil section. The overcrowding is due to the construction work on the national highway. More trains will be up to speed once signal upgrades and track repairs are completed.

Friends on Rails responded that the railway's explanation that trains are not held for Vandebharat is not correct, and it is not true to say that the speed of Venad has been increased.

ICF coaches to be used

Venad uses LHB rake and other trains use ICF. All the trains in the country are being shifted to LHB. Due to this, the non-expired and undamaged ICF coaches that are out of service are being used to increase the number of coaches. Railways said that this will be implemented in other trains as soon as more coaches are available.

Coming soon, Vande Sadharan

After Vandebharat, the country's first Vande Sadharan train is also arriving in Kerala. The service will be from Ernakulam to Guwahati. The completed Vande Sadharan train rake will reach Kochi soon. It has not been decided when the service will start. 1,834 passengers can travel at a time in 22 to 24 coaches. Vande Sadharan can run at a speed of 90 to 130 km per hour.

Construction of five Vande Sadharan rakes has been completed. Apart from the Ernakulam-Guwahati route, Vande Sadharan Pushpull Express may also be allowed on Patna-New Delhi, Howrah-New Delhi, Hyderabad-New Delhi and Mumbai-New Delhi routes. Vande Sadharan is planned to reach 23 more routes by next year. Banaras Locomotive Works was awarded the contract to manufacture 600 engines. The manufacturing cost of a rake is 65 crores.

No AC, low rate

Vande Sadharan's aim is to make long-distance travel possible for the common man at low cost. No AC coaches. No food charge. Vande Sadharan will also have high-speed, modern facilities, automatic doors, mobile charging facility at every seat, CCTV, bio vacuum toilets in all coaches, information display system, pushpull system and support of two locomotives.