Coach cuts cripple MEMU commuters between Bengaluru and Mysuru

Thousands of daily commuters on the Bengaluru–Mysuru MEMU (Mainline Electric Multiple Unit) train are facing severe hardships after a reduction in the number of coaches by railway officials. Once introduced in 2018 with 20 coaches to accommodate growing demand, the train has seen repeated reductions over time — first to 16 coaches and now down to just 12 for the past six months.

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This service, vital for daily wage workers, students, and low-income travelers, departs Mysuru at 6:10 am and returns from Bengaluru at 7:00 pm, halting at 22 stations along the route. With fares capped at ₹60, it remains one of the most affordable travel options between the two cities. However, with only 12 coaches catering to over 2,500–3,000 passengers daily, the situation has become unbearable.

Passengers report suffocating conditions inside the coaches, with barely enough space to stand, let alone sit. The train, once a symbol of accessible commuting, is now packed to the brim, forcing people to travel in extremely uncomfortable and sometimes unsafe conditions.

Commuters have urged railway authorities to reinstate the original number of coaches, highlighting that the current setup does not meet public needs. For many, the train isn't a choice but a lifeline — and that lifeline is now stretched thin.