2 weeks ago
Kerala's third Vande Bharat Express upgraded to 16 coaches
Some trains in India are very fast and special, and they are called Vande Bharat Express trains.
Kerala, a state in India, now has three pairs of these special trains.
The newest one travels between Ernakulam and Bengaluru.
It was launched in November 2025 by India's Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, using a video call.
When it started, the train had 8 coaches, which are the carriages where people sit.
Now, nine months later, the train will get more coaches so more people can travel.
Starting Monday, August 17, it will run with 16 coaches.
The bigger train will have 2 Executive Chair Car coaches and 14 Chair Car coaches.
That means about twice as many seats for passengers on this route.
Kerala's third Vande Bharat Express, running between Ernakulam and KSR Bengaluru, will run with 16 coaches from Monday, August 17.
The upgrade comes nine months after the train was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi via video conferencing in November 2025.
The train's capacity grows from 8 to 16 coaches, including 2 Executive Chair Car and 14 Chair Car coaches.
As of August 15, three pairs of Vande Bharat Express trains are operating in Kerala.
The train is operated and maintained by South Western Railway (SWR), while Kerala's railway network is under Southern Railway (SR).
- Who
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the train; the Ministry of Railways ordered the coach upgrade.
- What
- Kerala's third Vande Bharat Express, running between Ernakulam and KSR Bengaluru, was upgraded from 8 to 16 coaches.
- Where
- Between Ernakulam in Kerala and KSR Bengaluru, India.
- When
- The upgrade takes effect Monday, August 17; the train was launched in November 2025, nine months before the upgrade.
- Why
- To increase the seating capacity of the semi-high-speed train.
Key facts
- Train
- Ernakulam-KSR Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express (No. 26652/26651)
- Route
- Ernakulam Jn to KSR Bengaluru
- Coaches before upgrade
- 8
- Coaches after upgrade
- 16 (2 Executive Chair Car + 14 Chair Car)
- Upgrade effective from
- Monday, August 17
- Launched
- November 2025 by PM Narendra Modi via video conferencing
- Operating/maintaining zone
- South Western Railway (SWR)
- Vande Bharat pairs in Kerala
- 3 (as of August 15)









