Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat upgraded to 16 coaches

Union Minister Suresh Gopi flagged off the 16-coach Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express at Ernakulam Junction on Monday, doubling its seating capacity to 1,128. The service earlier had 530 seats. The move comes ahead of the Onam travel season to meet rising passenger demand.

Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Manager Divyakant Chandrakar said the rake was expanded because the train has been recording about 150 per cent occupancy. Two other Vande Bharat services connecting Kerala with Mangaluru and Kozhikode have recorded around 170 per cent occupancy. Gopi thanked Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the quick capacity increase.

Gopi noted the upgrade took effect on the first day of the Malayalam New Year. The 16-coach rake will provide more seats and better facilities. Chandrakar added that redevelopment of Ernakulam Junction station is progressing and is targeted for completion by 2028.