Demand rife to extend Bengaluru-Coimbatore Vande Bharat to Ernakulam
Passenger associations are citing the less than expected patronage for the train, and highlighting the inadequate number of trains during morning hours linking Ernakulam and Coimbatore
With the Railway Board yet to take a final call on introducing Vande Bharat Express service in the lucrative ErnakulamBengaluru corridor, demand is rife to extend the BengaluruCoimbatore Vande Bharat Express to Ernakulam.
Over 150% patronage
Passenger associations have been demanding this, citing the less than expected patronage for the CoimbatoreBengaluru train, that has necessitated a change of time schedule.
They have been contrasting this with the whopping patronage of over 150% for the pair of
Vande Bharat Express trains that are operating in Kerala, and the inadequate number of trains during morning hours linking commercial hubs Ernakulam and Coimbatore.
Paucity of trains
Referring to reports of the Southern Railway being allotted a Vande Bharat Express rake, P. Krishnakumar, general secretary of Thrissur Railway Passengers’ Association (TRPA), said that it should ideally be deployed in the ErnakulamBengaluru route, where a good section of commuters were forced to travel in interState buses due to acute paucity of trains. “Else, the Railway must for the time being increase the number of coaches in the CoimbatoreBengaluru Vande Bharat Express from eight to 16, and extend it to Ernakulam. This would in turn benefit commuters from Ernakulam to both Bengaluru and Coimbatore, while the augmenting of coaches would ensure optimal utility of the CoimbatoreBengaluru rail corridor.”
Code of conduct
The train could begin its service from Ernakulam at 5 a.m. and reach Bengaluru at noon, while the return train could begin from Bengaluru later at noon and reach Ernakulam at night, as was being considered by the Railway for the ErnakulamBengaluru Vande Bharat Express.
“We hope an announcement in this regard will be made before the model code of conduct for the impending Lok Sabha poll takes effect,” added Mr. Krishnakumar.
Tatanagar-Ernakulam daily train
Heeding to the demand from commuters, the Railway on Friday announced that the TatanagarErnakulam BiWeekly Express (Train number 18189) and its return train (18190) would operate as a daily train, from March 7 and March 10 respectively, immensely benefiting commuters in the highindemand ErnakulamPalakkadCoimbatore route, where a morning train was a necessity.