Parliament Question: Ernakulam–KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3930 TO BE ANSWERED ON 12.08.2026 ERNAKULAM–KSR BENGALURU VANDE BHARAT EXPRESS 3930. SHRI HIBI EDEN: Will the Minister of RAILWAYS be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government is aware of the persistent demand to augment the Ernakulam– KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express to 20-coach rake in view of the growing passenger demand on the route and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether the Government is considering the introduction of an additional overnight Vande Bharat Express between Ernakulam and KSR Bengaluru with departure around 11:00 PM from Ernakulam and morning arrival at Bengaluru and if so, the details thereof; (c) whether the Government has noticed that shortage of seats on the Ernakulam–KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express is indirectly benefiting the private bus lobby and if so, the details thereof; and (d) whether the Government has assessed passenger demand at various times for revising the present timings of the Ernakulam–KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express and if so, the details thereof? ANSWER MINISTER OF RAILWAYS, INFORMATION & BROADCASTING AND ELECTRONICS & INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (SHRI ASHWINI VAISHNAW) (a) to (d) To cater to the needs of passengers of Bengaluru-Ernakulam sector, it has been decided to operate 26651/26652 Bengaluru-Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express with 16 Cars instead of 8 Cars at present. Further, Ernakulam-Bengaluru sector is presently served by 10 pairs of trains which cater to the needs of the passengers. The list of trains serving the Ernakulam-Bengaluru sector is as under: § Page 1 of 2SN Train No. and Name 1 26651/26652 KSR Bengaluru-Ernakulam Vande Bharat Express 2 12257/12258 Yesvantpur-Thiruvananthapuram North Garib Rath Express 3 12683/12684 Ernakulam-SMVT Bengaluru Express 4 12777/12778 SSS Hubballi-Thiruvananthapuram North Express 5 16315/16316 Mysore-Thiruvananthapuram North Express 6 16319/16320 Thiruvananthapuram North-SMVT Bengaluru Express 7 16331/16332 Lokmanya Tilak (T)-Thiruvananthapuram Central Express 8 16377/16378 KSR Bengaluru-Ernakulam Express 9 16525/16526 Kanniyakumari-KSR Bengaluru Express 10 16561/16562 Yesvantpur-Thiruvananthapuram North Express Proposals/ requests/ suggestions/ representations, both formal and informal inter alia for augmentation of trains/ rationalisation of timings are received from Members of Parliament, elected representatives, organizations/rail users etc. at various levels including Railway Board, Zonal Railways, Divisional Office etc. These proposals are examined and action as found feasible and justified is taken from time to time, which is an on-going process. Further, introduction of train services on any route/section, rationalisation of time-table and augmentation of train services are an on-going processes, which depends on various factors including: ● Capacity of that section ● Availability of path ● Availability of required rolling stock ● Availability of matching infrastructure for rolling stock ● Maintenance requirement of railway tracks and other assets ● Occupancy and the traffic requirement of the section ***** Page 2 of 2