Extra second seating coaches in Nilambur-Kollam, Nagercoil-Kottayam trains: Details

Thiruvananthapuram: The Railways has allowed two additional second-class sitting coaches in the Thiruvananthapuram–Nilambur and Nagercoil–Kottayam express trains. It has also approved the increase in the number of coaches in the Alappuzha–Kollam, Kollam – Thiruvananthapuram, and Thiruvananthapuram–Nagercoil passenger trains running on the same line.

Nagercoil–Kottayam Express will get the additional coaches from August 15, while Kottayam–Nilambur and Nilambur–Kottayam will have additional coaches from August 16. Coaches would be added to the rest of the trains from August 17. The number of coaches in these trains will then go up from 14 to 16.

MPs Priyanka Gandhi, ET Muhammad Basheer, Harris Beeran, PV Abdul Wahab and Kodikunnil Suresh had written to the Railway minister urging him to allow two additional reserved second sitting coaches on the extremely busy Shoranur–Nilambur route.

The short platforms in stations on the Nilambur route are the main reason why the number of coaches in trains cannot be increased. The Thiruvananthapuram–Nilambur Rajyarani Express runs with only 14 coaches. Meanwhile, officials from the Thiruvananthapuram division said that more coaches could be added to Rajyarani Express if platforms are extended to accommodate 24-coach trains. The passengers to the Malabar region would get 720 extra berths if 10 additional coaches are allotted in this train, officials point out.

The Palakkad division has to take a decision on increasing the length of the platforms on the Shoranur– Nilambur route. Rajyarani Express sits idle at the Nilambur station from 10.30 am to 9.30 pm without any services. Although this train could be used for a daytime service between Nilambur and Ernakulam, authorities have been turning a blind eye to this demand. Besides, the shortage of platforms in Nilambur is also cited as a reason for not allotting more trains on this route.