Prayagraj: Railway Board has decided to permanently increase the number of coaches in mail and express trains across all zonal railways, including North Central Railway (NCR), in a move aimed at easing overcrowding and reducing waiting lists.Following the directive, NCR’s mechanical department has started preparations to implement the expansion in a phased manner.Under the new arrangement, trains currently operating with 20 coaches will get four additional coaches, taking their strength to 24. Those with 22 coaches will get two more coaches on a permanent basis.If two additional AC three-tier coaches are attached to a train, up to 144 more passengers will benefit in a single trip. In case two sleeper coaches are added, the additional capacity will be up to 160 passengers.NCR chief public relations officer Shivam Sharma said coaches would be added to eligible trains in phases.“The permanent addition of two to four coaches will help reduce waiting lists to a considerable extent. It will provide major relief to passengers during the festive season,” he said.At present, Prayagraj Express is the only train under NCR operating with 24 coaches. The coach augmentation will be carried out in trains equipped with LHB rakes.Among the major NCR trains currently running with 22 coaches are the Prayagraj-Lalgarh Superfast, Subedarganj-Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra Jammu Mail, Subedarganj-Shaheed Captain Tushar Mahajan Udhampur Express, Prayagraj-Ahmedabad Superfast, Prayagraj-Bhiwani Junction Kalindi Express, Prayagraj-Dr Ambedkar Nagar and Prayagraj-New Delhi Humsafar.The Kanpur-New Delhi Shram Shakti Express currently operates with 23 coaches and may also benefit from the capacity augmentation plan.
