The addition of new coaches is expected to ease the heavy rush of passengers, especially on services like the Alappuzha–Ernakulam MEMU, which departs at 7.25 a.m. and often runs with overcrowded along the coastal route.
| Photo Credit: FILE
To increase the number of coaches in MEMU trains operating via Alappuzha, a 12-coach rake sanctioned by the Railway Board has arrived at the MEMU shed in Kollam.
K.C. Venugopal, MP, said the rake, manufactured at the Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala, was brought from Tambaram to Kollam after completing commissioning procedures. The addition of new coaches is expected to ease the heavy rush of passengers, especially on services like the Alappuzha–Ernakulam MEMU, which departs at 7.25 a.m. and often runs with overcrowded along the coastal route.
Mr. Venugopal had repeatedly raised the issue with Union Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Railway Board Chairperson Satish Kumar. “It has been decided to add four additional coaches each to the three MEMU trains operating along the coastal route. With this, the number of coaches in each train will increase from 12 to 16,” Mr. Venugopal said.
He added that the Railways had informed that the upgrade to 16 coaches in all three MEMU trains would be implemented after completing the necessary technical arrangements in the coming days.
Published – July 20, 2025 04:47 pm IST
