Onam rush relief: Bengaluru-Ernakulam Vande Bharat to run with 16 coaches

Kochi: More seats are coming for passengers travelling between Bengaluru and Kerala ahead of Onam. The Bengaluru-Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express will operate with 16 coaches from August 17, replacing the existing eight-coach configuration.

The Bengaluru-Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express is set to get a major capacity boost ahead of the Onam travel season, with the number of coaches being increased from eight to 16.

The expanded service will begin operations on August 17, according to railway officials and reports. The move is expected to provide additional seating capacity for passengers travelling between Bengaluru and Kerala during the busy festive period.

Vande Bharat coaches doubled

The Railways has decided to replace the existing eight-coach configuration with a 16-coach Vande Bharat service.

The decision follows demands for greater capacity on the popular Bengaluru-Ernakulam route. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw had informed the Lok Sabha that the number of coaches would be increased from eight to 16 after MP Hibi Eden sought an increase to 20 coaches.

The expanded service is expected to ease some of the pressure created by high passenger demand during the Onam season.

New timings

The Vande Bharat departing from Bengaluru will leave at 5:50 am and reach Ernakulam South at 1:50 pm.

The return service will depart from Ernakulam at 2:20 pm and reach Bengaluru at 11:00 pm.

Relief for Onam travellers

Onam is one of Kerala's busiest travel periods, with large numbers of people returning to their hometowns from cities including Bengaluru.

The increase to 16 coaches will provide additional seats without requiring the introduction of an entirely new service on the route.

The decision is therefore expected to offer some relief to passengers facing limited availability during the festive travel rush.