Kannur: The short railway platforms are hindering the addition of coaches in trains. This is a setback for trains like Netravati Express and Mangala Express, having LHB (Link Hoffman Bush) coaches.

At present, the platforms in Kerala can include 24 ICF coaches. An ICF coach is 22.3 meters long. A minimum length of 560 meters is required to park 25 coaches, including engines, on one platform.

Most of the carriages are turning to LHB coaches. An  LHB train currently has 21-22 coaches. Up to 24 coaches can be accommodated in such trains. The length of an LHB coach is 24 meters.

The platform should be more than 600 meters long to stop a train with 24 LHB coaches at the station. But the platform at most of the stations is not that long. Even in larger stations only some platforms can accommodate 24 coaches.

Most of the long distance carriages reduced by general coaches are running with LHB coaches. Thiruvananthapuram-Mumbai Netravati (16346) and Ernakulam-Nizamuddin Mangala (12617) trains, which are the busiest in North Kerala and have a few general coaches, cannot accommodate 24 coaches. If installed in this way, two coaches will have to be halted outside the platform.

However, trains, including Parasuram, having conventional (ICF) coaches can accommodate up to 24 coaches. Railways are not doing it either. 

The non-production of coaches at the Integral Coach Factory at present is also a setback.