Mumbai-Goa Vande Bharat Express too short; commuters call for expansion

The popular MumbaiGoa Vande Bharat Express Train 22229ndash22230 operates with just eight coaches making it shorter than even a Mumbai local train which runs with 12 or 15 cars With holiday rush increasing passengers are demanding that the train be expanded for a more comfortable and accessible journeyHistoryThe service was flagged off in June 2023 and has been popular from day one It was originally scheduled for inauguration on June 3 2023 but was postponed following the Odisha train collision and was later launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on June 27 2023 via video conference from Rani Kamalapati Habibganj railway stationDemand for a longer trainPassenger groups are now pushing for the train to be upgraded from its current eightcoach formation to a 16 or 20coach rake to meet soaring demand on the Mumbai Konkan Goa corridor The recent transfer of ownership and primary maintenance of the JalnaMumbai and SolapurMumbai Vande Bharat services to the Nanded Division from August 27 2025 has freed up two maintenance slots making augmentation operationally feasibleBenefits of augmentationUpgrading the rake would significantly increase capacity and reduce long waiting lists It would boost revenue and improve passenger comfort especially during peak travel periods such as Ganpati Christmas and New YearSuggested measuresShift Moving the trainrsquos maintenance base to Madgaon would make operating a 16 or 20coach rake technically feasible and avoid pit line constraints in MumbaiDevelop If Madgaon currently lacks pit lines and facilities for Vande Bharat maintenance officials say the Railway Board should prioritise developing the required infrastructure to support longterm operations and future premium servicesTransfer Passenger groups have also suggested transferring ownership and primary maintenance of Train 22229ndash22230 to Konkan Railway at Madgaon to enable the operation of a full 20coach rakeVoicesJayawant Shankar Darekar commuterldquoA longer train is required We earnestly propose shifting the ownership and primary maintenance of the MumbaiMadgaon Vande Bharat Express to Madgaon under KRCL It will meet public demand and improve efficiency connectivity and service qualityrdquoAkshay Mahapadi commuter activistldquoThe longpending demand to upgrade the train from eight coaches to 16 or 20 continues to be ignored The train has consistently recorded very high occupancy and remains crucial for the Mumbai Konkan Goa regionrdquo Official speakA Central Railway spokespersonldquoMumbaiGoa is one of our popular routes with consistently high occupancy We definitely want to increase the coaches but we do not have an additional rake at the moment We are waiting for a new rake from the Integral Coach Factory in ChennairdquoThe occupancy numbersChair Car 1019237Executive Class 945737Chair Car 889537Executive Class 865037CSMT to Goa MadgaonTotal 1012037Goa Madgaon to CSMTTotal 887137