Mangaluru-Thiruvananthapuram Vande Bharat Express to Get Four Additional Coaches

Quick Summary

• Four Chair Car coaches will be added to the Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram Central Vande Bharat Express starting September 9, responding to high passenger demand.
• The train will now run with 20 coaches: 18 Chair Car (CC) adn two Executive Class (EC).
• Southern Railway announced that this addition was approved recently by the Ministry of railways.
• Coach capacity had previously doubled on May 22; this further increase comes within three months of that change.
• The Vande bharat service was extended to Mangaluru Central on March 13, 2024, from its initial route between Thiruvananthapuram and Kasaragod.
• Operational details:

– Train No. 20631 departs from Mangaluru at 6:25 a.m., reaching Thiruvananthapuram at 3:05 p.m. (8 hours, 40 minutes; average speed: 72 kmph).- Train No. 20632 departs Thiruvananthapuram at 4:05 p.m., reaching Mangaluru at 12:40 a.m. (8 hours,35 minutes).
– Both operate daily except Wednesdays.

• Ticket fares:

– ₹1,615 for CC and ₹2,945 for EC classes in the forward journey; ₹1,575 and ₹2,910 in return trips respectively.

• Advantages:

– Covers the route’s distance of approximately 620 km within nine hours compared to other trains requiring over 13 hours.
– Widely used by tourists and business travelers due to reduced travel time.

• Addition of four coaches will increase seating capacity by about 300 seats, adding onto the previously available total of 1,128 seats.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The expansion of coach capacity in response to increasing demand underscores not only the popularity but also the growing necessity for faster intercity connectivity in southern India. The efficiency of Vande Bharat services-in terms of reduced travel time-has evidently aligned well with user expectations from both tourism-focused individuals and professionals requiring quick commutes.

The competitive advantage provided by faster speeds translates into economic gains for businesses relying on more accessible transportation links across key cities like Mangaluru and Thiruvananthapuram.Moreover, enhancing seating capacity demonstrates an adaptive approach by policymakers catering directly to real-time demand fluctuations.

At a broader level, this step represents further integration into India’s enterprising rail modernization program aiming towards seamless regional connectivity while maintaining affordability relative to its benefits-symbolized here through fares accommodating multiple financial capacities via CC & EC classes.

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