Matsyagandha Express gets new LHB coaches; MP to travel on the train on Feb. 17 and interact with patrons

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary introduces brand new LHB coaches for Matsyagandha Express, enhancing travel experience.

Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP Kota Srinivas Poojary will travel the Mangaluru Central-Mumbai Lokamanya Tilak Terminus, Matsyagandha Express on the first day of its journey with brand new LHB (Linke-Hofmann-Busch) coaches on February 17 and interact with patrons about the future railway needs of the region.

Welcoming patrons to join him at Udupi Railway Station on February 17, Mr. Poojary in a statement here on Saturday, February 8, said senior Railway officials were expected to be present during the journey and discussion about the future needs. Introduction of LHB rake for the Matsyagandha Express (Train No. 12620/12619) was the result of sustained campaign by patrons, his efforts and positive response from Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw and Minister of State V. Somanna, the MP said.

Mr. Poojary said Matsyagandha Express began its service on May 1, 1998, after being flagged off by the then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Railway Minister George Fernandes. It was the first passenger train to run on the completed Konkan Railway Corporation Ltd., (KRCL) network of 741 km, covering 882.5 km distance in about 17 hours. As the service became a game-changer for train travel between Karnataka coast and Mumbai, coastal Karnataka people have an emotional bonding with the train, he noted. Before its introduction, people from the region and Mumbai had to endure either a 30-hour bus journey or 40-hour train travel via Kadur.

Mr. Poojary said as the Matsyagandha rakes had become dilapidated, patrons had been demanding upgradation. Many had even sent videos of ceiling of coaches falling down, urging him to get the rakes replaced. After the Railway Ministry ordered the replacement of old rakes with LHB rakes, the new rakes were ready for deployment, he said.

The MP said LHB coaches offer enhanced travel experience with good interiors, reduced noise and safety. State-of-the-art toilets were provided in these coaches. Along with the Matsyagandha, the Mumbai Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus-Mangaluru Junction-Mumbai CSMT Superfast Express (Train No. 12133/134) too would get LHB coaches from March 1, Mr. Poojary said.

With Matsyagandha having rake sharing arrangement (RSA) with train No. 16347/348 Thiruvananthapuram Central-Mangaluru Central-Thiruvananthapuram Central Express, these services too would get LHB coaches from February 16 and 19 respectively.