HUBBALLI
: The South
Western Railway had promised to upgrade the rake of popular Janshatabdi train with the advanced Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches by September last year. Five months have passed since but there is no progress in this regard.
Railway users of this region have been demanding comfortable coaches. Their grouse is that the present Integral Coach Factory (ICF) coaches have less headspace and legroom and one can't sit comfortably.
Janshatabdi is a popular train running between Hubballi and Bengaluru since the past 25 years and it always has high occupancy. The train is also popular between Hubballi and Bengaluru. Passengers prefer this train since it is one of the fastest trains between the two cities and runs during day time. The occupancy rate of the train is very high despite the fact that amenities in the coaches are not good.
Software engineer Pradeep Tandavpur, who is a frequent traveller, said that the seats of ICF coaches are not comfortable. Day travelling in congested coaches makes it more stressful, he added. "The SWR has provided
LHB coaches
to many trains. The recently launched super fast express between
Belagavi
and Bengaluru has been replaced with LHB coaches. Then why not Janshatabdi?" he questioned.
Pratap Huggi, a resident of Annigeri said that though the train is fast and punctual, bad amenities make the journey unpleasant. E Vijaya, chief public relation officer, SWR, said that zone is receiving LHB sleeper coaches but seating coaches are yet to arrive.
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