Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD)
Udupi, Oct 16: Finally it is good news for the travellers of Matsyagandha train between Mangaluru-Mumbai as their long standing demand of upgrading the Matsyagandha train with LHB coaches will soon be a reality.
Southern Railway, Palakkad division has officially stated that Matsyagandha express working between Mangaluru central and Lokmanya Tilak Terminus will be upgraded to modern LHB (Linke Hoofmann Busch) coaches. The new coaches will be upgraded for the train from February 17, 2025 for train no. 12620 Mangaluru Central – Lokmanya Tilak Terminus (LTT) and from February 18, 2025 for train no. 12619 Lokmanya Tilak Terminus to Mangaluru Central.
The coach composition for the train has also been provisioned. Matsyagandha express will now run with 2 coaches of AC 2 tier, 4 coaches of AC 3 tier, 2 of AC 3 tier economy level, eight sleeper coaches, four general unreserved coaches, and one each of seating cum luggage rake and End-on generator car.
With the new coach setup Matsyagandha express will get a new ac 3 tier economy coach and sleeper coaches will be reduced to 8 as compared to existing 11 coaches.
Currently the train is running with old ICF coaches. The train has successfully served for more than 25 years with these coaches and there was an increased demand for coach up gradation from the passengers. There were incidents of roofs falling during rainy seasons inside the coaches. Daijiworld.com had raised the issue on June 22 this year and published an extensive article highlighting the need for upgrade. Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary had also met union railway minister Ashwini Vaishnav and submitted the demand for the upgrade.
Train no 16347 Thiruvananthapuram-Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram Central Express will switch to LHB coaches starting from February 16, 2025 and train no 16348 Mangaluru Central- Thiruvananthapuram Central Express will operate with LHB coaches from February 19, 2025.
Ganesh Puthran, president of the Kundapura Rail Passengers' Welfare Committee, expressed gratitude to MP Kota Srinivas Poojary, railway activists, and social media influencers for their efforts in making this long-awaited upgrade possible.