South Western Railway’s Mysuru division will replace conventional rakes with modern Linke Hofmann Busch (LHB) coaches on six important train services from October 20, improving the safety and accessibility profile of services linking Mysuru with Shivamogga, Chamarajanagar, Tirupati and Chennai.
The change will be introduced in stages. The Mysuru–Talaguppa Express, train numbers 16227 and 16228, will run with LHB coaches from Mysuru from October 20 and from Talaguppa from October 21. The Talaguppa–Shivamogga Town service, train numbers 56217 and 56218, will receive the new coaches from both directions from October 21.
The Nanjangud Town–Mysuru–Nanjangud Town service, train numbers 56205 and 56206, will be converted from both directions from October 22. The Chamarajanagar–Mysuru service, train numbers 56203 and 56204, will operate with LHB coaches from Mysuru from October 22 and from Chamarajanagar from October 24.
The Chamarajanagar–Tirupati service, train numbers 16219 and 16220, will receive the new coaches from Chamarajanagar from October 22 and from Tirupati from October 23. The MGR Chennai Central–Tirupati–MGR Chennai Central service, train numbers 16203 and 16204, will also operate with LHB coaches from both directions from October 23.
According to a Mysuru division release, the affected trains currently have 21 coaches. Their composition includes one AC First Class coach, one AC 2-Tier coach, two AC 3-Tier coaches, 10 sleeper coaches, five general Second Class coaches and two Second Class-cum-Brake Vans.
Under the revised arrangement, each train will have 19 LHB coaches. The new composition will include one AC First Class coach, one AC 2-Tier coach, three AC 3-Tier coaches, seven sleeper coaches and five general Second Class coaches. It will also include one Second Class luggage-cum-brake van with a coach for passengers with disabilities, and one luggage and brake van-cum-generator car.
The change reduces the total number of coaches by two while altering the balance between accommodation, luggage handling and passenger facilities. The revised composition adds one AC 3-Tier coach compared with the existing arrangement and introduces a dedicated accessibility feature within the luggage-cum-brake van. The division’s announcement does not specify whether the revised rake composition will change fares, ticket availability or scheduled journey times.
LHB coaches are being introduced as a replacement for the conventional rakes on these services, with passenger safety cited as the reason for the decision. The affected routes connect Mysuru and nearby towns with important destinations across Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, including Shivamogga, Chamarajanagar, Tirupati and Chennai.
The rollout will begin with the Mysuru–Talaguppa service on October 20, followed by the remaining services between October 21 and October 23. The Chamarajanagar–Mysuru service will complete its direction-wise transition on October 24, according to the Mysuru division’s announcement.
