Onam rush: 16-coach Vande Bharat for Kochi from next week

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Railway Board has approved a 16-coach rake for the Bengaluru-Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express, replacing the existing eight-coach service to address rising passenger demand. The upgraded train is scheduled to begin operations next week.

This shift will more than double the service’s carrying capacity, increasing the total number of seats from 530 to 1,128. The move is expected to provide significant relief to commuters, particularly those planning travel for the upcoming Onam festival, which has seen a surge in ticket demand.

High passenger volume has led to severe booking shortages on the route. For travel from Bengaluru to Ernakulam on August 21 and 22, the waiting list for chair car tickets has already surpassed 100. Additionally, the route is currently showing no ticket availability for the return journey to Bengaluru from August 29 to 31. Railway authorities anticipate that the increased capacity will allow significantly more passengers to secure confirmed tickets in the coming days.