The demand for augmentation of coaches in trains such as Jan Shatabdi Express and Coimbatore – Nagercoil Superfast Express, which run with less than 20 coaches in spite of demand and patronage, is growing louder.
Train no. 22668 Coimbatore – Nagercoil Superfast Express has 17 coaches and train no. 12084 Coimbatore – Mayiladuthurai Jan Shatabdi Express has 16 coaches, according to railway data.
Addition of extra coaches is necessary to meet the demands of the passengers, says S. Ravi, rail activist and intellectual property rights professional.
“Jan Shatabdi Express has only one air-conditioned chair-car coach, while train no. 12680 Intercity Superfast Express and train no. 12676 Kovai Superfast Express that run between Coimbatore and Chennai have two or three air-conditioned chair-car coaches. On the other hand, train no. 12648 Kongu Express from Coimbatore to Hazrat Nizamuddin, which was inaugurated in 2000, has no pantry despite having 24 coaches,” he points out.
“Travelling for 48 hours in a train without pantry is a huge problem,” Mr. Ravi says, adding that passengers have to wait for the subsequent station even for coffee or tea.
The Nilgiri Express must be augmented using German-made Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches in order to ensure sustained patronage from the passengers, he suggests.
