Vande Bharat Trains Hit 160% Occupancy in Kerala Amid Calls for More Services Despite Track Congestion Issues
What’s inside:
This article discusses the high demand for Vande Bharat trains in Kerala and the challenges in providing additional services.
Vande Bharat trains are really popular among rail passengers in Kerala. Routes like Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram and Thiruvananthapuram-Kasaragod often see occupancy levels above 160%.
Even though many people want more services, the railway ministry has not approved additional trains for Kerala due to heavy congestion on the tracks. Adding high-speed trains would require stopping some passenger services for a while.
Recently, on September 9, the train services between Mangaluru Central and Thiruvananthapuram, as well as Kasaragod and Thiruvananthapuram, were expanded. They now have 20 coaches instead of 16, which means they can seat 1,440 passengers.
However, the actual number of passengers using these trains is much higher, with around 2,300 to 2,500 people traveling per trip. This shows that there is a strong demand for these services.
Although the Nagercoil-Chennai Egmore Vande Bharat train does not go through Kerala, many passengers from Thiruvananthapuram use it to reach Chennai. The current situation suggests that Vande Bharat services are extremely popular in the region.
Summary:
- Vande Bharat trains have high occupancy in Kerala.
- Railways are not adding more services due to track congestion.
- Train services were expanded to accommodate more passengers.
- Actual passenger numbers exceed the new seating capacity.
- Nagercoil-Chennai Egmore service is also important for Kerala travelers.