Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat upgraded to 16 coaches from 8

Kochi, Aug 17 (PTI) The Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express will run with 16 coaches instead of eight, doubling its seating capacity to 1,128, Union Minister Suresh Gopi said on Monday.

The Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas and Tourism flagged off the 16-coach rake at Ernakulam Junction in the presence of railway officials and other public representatives.

Thanking Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for taking immediate steps to increase the train's capacity ahead of the Onam travel season, Gopi said the move would benefit passengers travelling on the busy Ernakulam-Bengaluru route.

The service, which earlier had a seating capacity of 530 passengers, will now have 1,128 seats, he said.

Gopi pointed out that the increase in capacity was coming into effect on a significant day, as it marked the beginning of the New Year in the Malayalam calendar.

Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Manager Divyakant Chandrakar said the decision to increase the rake to 16 coaches was taken in view of the rise in passenger demand during the Onam season.

The Vande Bharat service, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has been recording around 150 per cent occupancy, while two other Vande Bharat services connecting Kerala with Mangaluru and Kozhikode have recorded around 170 per cent occupancy, he said.

The 16-coach rake would provide more seats, better facilities and improved connectivity for passengers, Chandrakar said.

He said the redevelopment work at Ernakulam Junction railway station was progressing towards the target of completion in 2028.

Ernakulam MP Hibi Eden, MP Haris Beeran, MLA T J Vinod, ward councillors, Divisional Railway Users' Consultative Committee and Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee members, railway officials, media personnel and passengers attended the function. PTI