Vande Bharat upgrade: Kerala passengers now get top priority | Check your quota

The Indian Railways will soon adjust ticket quotas on the Bengaluru–Ernakulam Vande Bharat train to ensure more seats are available for passengers from Kerala. At present, travellers boarding from Ernakulam often struggle to secure tickets, while passengers from Coimbatore receive a larger share. The Railway Authority shared the plan at a recent Divisional Railway Users’ Consultative Committee (DRUCC) meeting, where members urged quick resolution of the imbalance.

DRUCC recommends new MEMU and direct train services

Committee members also recommended introducing 16-coach MEMU services, starting new trains on the Kottayam–Rameswaram and Ernakulam–Puducherry routes, and launching a direct train from Thiruvananthapuram to Hyderabad. Additional demands included enhanced security during late-night and early-morning travel, reduced parking charges, and ending the practice of operating MEMU trains as express services. Members further urged the Railways to expedite development at the Nemom and Kochuveli terminals and establish a new terminal at the Ernakulam Marshalling Yard.

Scenic Vande Bharat journey draws attention

A video of the Ernakulam–Bengaluru Vande Bharat journey, showing a passenger enjoying meals and scenic hills between Palakkad and Coimbatore, has drawn attention on social media. While viewers praised the experience as world-class, some noted that dirty train windows often obscure the view.

India to launch first-ever Vande Bharat sleeper trains

In a major expansion, Indian Railways is set to introduce its first-ever Vande Bharat sleeper trains in January, a response to long-standing passenger demand for overnight high-speed services. The Railways plans to build eight additional sleeper rakes by March, signalling a rapid rollout of premium night-travel options. The sleeper coaches, designed for comfort and modern amenities, are being manufactured at the Integrated Coach Factory (ICF) in Perambur, while development began at the BEML unit in Bengaluru.

Sleeper coaches to transform long-distance travel

Until now, all 92 Vande Bharat trains were chair-car models for daytime travel. The new sleeper coaches will allow these trains to operate on long-distance overnight routes, improving convenience and efficiency. A prototype with 16 coaches has been tested and will soon be sent to Delhi, while the first sleeper train, including two sleeper coaches, is scheduled to launch in January. Trial runs for a second train are underway in Ahmedabad.

New southern corridor and network expansion

Officials also discussed introducing a Vande Bharat service with a single sleeper coach on the Bengaluru–Kanyakumari route, covering one of southern India’s busiest travel corridors. The sleeper trains are expected to transform overnight rail travel, combining speed, comfort, and modern design, marking a significant milestone in India’s railway modernisation efforts.