Indian Railways expands Vande Bharat capacity and reviews coach allocations

The Ernakulam-Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express has been upgraded from eight to 16 coaches, doubling its seating capacity from 530 to 1,128 passengers. Union Minister Suresh Gopi flagged off the expanded service at Ernakulam Junction, noting that the increase aims to accommodate high demand during the Onam travel season.

In a related development, Indian Railways is reviewing the allocation of de-reserved coaches across Kerala. Due to a rise in unreserved and season-ticket travel, officials are evaluating whether to add de-reserved coaches to more services or redistribute existing ones. Currently, 24 trains in Kerala feature de-reserved coaches, and the review seeks to align coach availability with current passenger numbers and changing travel demands.