Tiruchi MP Durai Vaiko has urged the Southern Railway to augment the number of coaches in the Tiruchi-Rameswaram unreserved express (16849/16850) from nine to 12 in the interest of passengers.
In a representation to the Southern Railway General Manager, Mr. Durai Vaiko said at present the express train operates with only nine coaches which was inadequate to meet the growing passenger demand.
Passengers faced considerable hardship because of overcrowding, insufficient seating facilities, and a lack of adequate space throughout their journey. This train serves as an important transport link for the people travelling between Tiruchi and Rameswaram and the intermediate stations along its route.
In view of the increasing demand and the severe overcrowding experienced by passengers, Mr. Durai Vaiko requested the Southern Railway General Manager to take augment the train’s composition from nine to 12 coaches subject to operational feasibility and the availability of necessary infrastructure. This would help accommodate more passengers and improve their comfort, convenience, and safety, he said.
Push back seats
In another representation, Mr. Durai Vaiko requested the Southern Railway to examine the feasibility of providing push-back reclining seats in the second sitting (2S) coaches of the Pallavan and Vaigai Superfast Express trains.
At present, the fixed seating arrangement in the second sitting coaches offers 90-degree upright seating with limited flexibility for passengers. The provision of push-back reclining seats would allow passengers to adjust the seat to a comfortable angle which would significantly improve the overall travel experience and reduce discomfort during long journey.
The Thiruvananthapuram-Kannur Jan Shatabdi Express (12081/12082) faced the same issues and the coaches were changed as pushback seats on October 11, Mr. Durai Vaiko pointed out.
Published - October 23, 2026 06:21 pm IST