By News Karnataka
In a surprising development, a Vande Bharat train, once active on the Thiruvananthapuram鈥揔asargod route, has been parked idle for over a month at Manjeshwaram railway station in Kasargod district. The high-speed train, known for its advanced technology and comfort, has been stationed on Track 4, typically used for cargo operations.
This 8-rake train initially ran services between Kasargod and Thiruvananthapuram. However, after the introduction of longer trains鈥攁 20-rake service via Alappuzha and a 16-rake service from Mangaluru to Thiruvananthapuram鈥攖he original train was reassigned to the Mangaluru鈥揋oa route. It was later sent to Chennai, but has since returned and is now lying unused at Manjeshwaram.
Railway officials clarified that the train is currently being held as a standby unit, in case other Vande Bharat services in the region develop technical issues. Its current location at Manjeshwaram is mainly due to space constraints at Mangaluru station.
Meanwhile, the Palakkad railway division is awaiting clearance to move the train back to Chennai, which will likely happen once formal approvals are received.
Local railway enthusiasts and passengers have questioned the prolonged idling of such an expensive asset, urging authorities to optimize deployment and ensure the train is put back into active service.