End to suffocating journeys? Kerala trains among others to get more general coaches from March
As a relief to passengers, six pairs of trains operating through Kerala are among the 14 pairs in which the Southern Railway is set to increase the number of general coaches. The additional coaches will be introduced from March. This move also includes the reinstatement of general coaches that had been reduced during the COVID-19 period. The revised configuration will have two general coaches at both the front and rear of the trains, making a total of four.
The trains that will now include four general coaches are
Puducherry–Mangaluru Express
Chennai–Palakkad Superfast
Chennai–Thiruvananthapuram Superfast
Chennai–Alappuzha Superfast
Kochuveli–Nilambur Rajyarani Express
Ernakulam–Velankanni Express
The policy of increasing general coaches in long-distance trains is seen as an indication that the railways may extend this initiative to more trains in the future. In September 2024, additional coaches were attached to 44 long-distance trains in the Southern Railway, particularly in Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) rakes, with one or two extra compartments per train. Among the 16 trains (eight pairs) that benefitted from this initiative were Netravati Express, Mangaluru Express and Mangaluru–Chennai Superfast Express, which operate through Kerala.
Need consideration for passenger trains
The Shoranur–Mangaluru section currently has only 18 passenger trains, including those that halt at multiple stations, while the adjacent Shoranur–Ernakulam section has a higher number of trains. The 132-kilometre Kannur–Mangaluru section does not have a single MEMU service. The region is primarily served by just four trains, including the Mangaluru–Coimbatore Express.
Moreover, the Kannur–Cheruvathur and Cheruvathur–Mangaluru passenger trains operate only half their routes before exchanging rakes. While passenger trains are available between Kozhikode and Kannur, frequent schedule disruptions cause inconvenience to regular commuters. The Shoranur–Kannur passenger service could be extended to Kasaragod, but no steps have been taken in that direction.
Student collapses due to overcrowding in general coach
Meanwhile, a girl student collapsed due to overcrowding in the general compartment of the Mangaluru–Chennai Mail on Saturday afternoon near Payyanur. She was given first aid at the platform before being taken to a hospital. According to Sajith Paleri, a fellow passenger and college lecturer, the compartment was heavily crowded at the time.
Key Passenger and Express trains in the region
Northbound Services:
- Shoranur–Kannur MEMU
- Thrissur–Kannur Passenger
- Coimbatore–Mangaluru Express
- Kozhikode–Kannur Passenger
- Kannur–Cheruvathur Passenger
- Cheruvathur–Mangaluru Passenger
- Shoranur–Kannur Special
- Coimbatore–Kannur Express
- Shoranur–Kozhikode Passenger
- Kannur–Mangaluru Passenger
Southbound Services:
- Kannur–Shoranur MEMU
- Kannur–Thrissur Passenger
- Kannur–Coimbatore Express
- Mangaluru–Coimbatore Express
- Mangaluru–Kozhikode Express
- Kannur–Shoranur Special
- Kozhikode–Shoranur Passenger
- Mangaluru–Kannur Passenger