Kochi: Bringing much-needed relief to thousands of daily passengers, Indian Railways has approved the addition of four extra coaches to key MEMU services in Kerala. The Palakkad–Ernakulam MEMU, which had been operating with just eight coaches despite heavy overcrowding, will now run with 12 coaches from the 23rd of this month. The decision follows persistent protests and repeated representations from passenger associations and public representatives.
In addition to the Palakkad–Ernakulam (66609/66610) service, the Kollam–Ernakulam (06169/06170) and Kollam–Kottayam (66316/66315) MEMU trains will also be upgraded to 12 coaches. With a seating capacity of just 610, the Palakkad–Ernakulam service was often carrying more than 3,000 passengers daily, forcing many to travel in extremely congested conditions. After multiple appeals by MPs and formal requests from the Palakkad and Thiruvananthapuram Divisional Railway Managers to Southern Railway and the Railway Board, approval was finally granted. The expansion is expected to significantly reduce overcrowding and enhance comfort for regular commuters across the state.
