Kannur: Sleeper coaches will be cut short in popular trains running in Kerala. Such coaches will be replaced by 3rd AC coaches. There will be only nine sleeper coaches in Maveli express from today. On the other hand, the number of AC coaches in the train will rise to six. The railways earn double the money every time a sleeper coach is converted into a 3rd AC coach.

Similarly, a sleeper coach and de-reserved coach will be removed from the Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore Malabar (16629) express. The traditional rakes of Maveli and Malabar will be replaced by LHB coaches. Hence, the number of AC coaches will increase considerably. There are 72 berths in an LHB coach.    

The railways have started cutting down general coaches in particular trains as well. It should be noted that an additional 3rd AC coach was added in the Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram-Mangalore express (16347/16348) in the month of July by cutting down a general coach.

AC coaches have increased in nine trains under the Southern railways including the Mangalore-Mumbai Matsyagandha express. This has been done by cutting down the number of general/sleeper coaches in these trains. 

Two sleeper coaches in Kannur-Yesvantpur- Kannur (16527/16528) express have been replaced by AC coaches. Meanwhile, the number of sleeper coaches in Netravati express (16345) and Thiruvananthapuram-Nizammudin (22633) express have been reduced to eight.

The trains in which the sleeper coaches will be cut down this month

  • Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Maveli (16603/16604) express-September 11,12

  • Mangalore-Chennai Mail (12602,12601)- September 13,19

  • Mangalore-Chennai Westcoast express (22637/22638)- September 14,15

  • Mangalore-Thiruvananthapuram Malabar express (16630/16629)-September 17, 19.