The second Vande Bharat Express in Kerala was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

The second Vande Bharat Express in Kerala was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

The second Vande Bharat Express in Kerala was flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday.

Thrissur: Kerala's second Vande Bharat Express that begins its regular service tomorrow is fully reserved for almost all days until October 2.

According to the IRCTC website, the eight-coach Vande Bharat (train no: 20631) is fully reserved until September 28 and on September 30 and October 1.

ADVERTISEMENT

At the time of writing, seats were available on September 29 (Friday). Also, a handful of seats were left for September 28.

Kerala's latest Vande Bharat Express was virutally flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on September 24.

ADVERTISEMENT

Meanwhile, there are adequate seats available in the first Vande Bharat Express (train nos. 20633 and 20634) along the Kasaragod-Thiruvananthapuram stretch. Kerala's first Vande Bharat became operational on April 25.

SM Sharma, DRM Thiruvananthapuram Division posing with other railway officers and the crew of the second Vande Bharat Express during its inaugural run on Sunday. Photo: Special arrangement

Crossing of Vande Bharat trains
Railways authorities said that the two Vande Bharat Express trains will have a crossing at Shoranur during the morning services and between Chalakkudy and Angamaly in the evening.

ADVERTISEMENT

Over 3,000 passengers relish inaugural run
Around 400 passengers from each station had boarded the inaugural service of Kerala’s second Vande Bharat Express on Sunday afternoon.

Elaborate functions were organised at each station – Kasaragod, Payyannur, Kannur, Thalassery, Kozhikode, Tirur, Shoranur Junction, Thrissur, Ernakulam Junction, Alappuzha, Kayamkulam Junction, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram Central.

Students of Amrita Vidyalaya Ayyanthole in Thrissur pose with their Vande Bharat-themed artwork during the inaugural run. Photo: Special arrangement

“Souvenir tickets for the inaugural run were distributed from each station after preparing a list of passengers well before the service,” said a senior officer from the Thiruvananthapuram Railway Division.

Besides students from schools and colleges, members of various socio-cultural organisations, public and private firms and political parties were on the passengers list. “The majority of the passengers were women,” said the officer.

The passengers were given passes to the next station from where they boarded. Minister of State External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs V Muraleedharan travelled the entire stretch.

The celebrations at the Tirur Railway Station, which was included in last moment, included a show of traditional arts, including kalari payattu.