Passengers on the Palakkad–Ernakulam MEMU have received relief after Southern Railway decided to increase the number of coaches from eight to 12, following protests and repeated petitions over severe overcrowding.

Southern Railway said the additional coaches will be attached from February 23, strengthening services on the busy Palakkad–Ernakulam route in Kerala.

The Palakkad–Ernakulam MEMU has been carrying more than 3,000 passengers daily despite having only 610 seats, leading to extreme congestion. Commuters had flagged safety concerns and demanded immediate augmentation of coaches.

The issue gained attention after 'Mathrubhumi' report highlighted the plight of daily passengers. The Rail Passengers Association led protests, while Members of Parliament and others wrote repeatedly to the Divisional Railway Manager seeking permanent allocation of 12 coaches.

The coach augmentation will apply to the Palakkad–Ernakulam–Palakkad MEMU (66609/10). The number of coaches will also be increased to 12 in the Kollam–Ernakulam (06169/70) and Kollam–Kottayam (66316/15) MEMU services.