Rons Bantwal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru
Mangaluru, June 29: In a move aimed at easing heavy passenger congestion on the Karnataka–Gujarat route, the Western Railway has extended the run of its Ahmedabad–Mangaluru Junction–Ahmedabad ‘Weekly Train on Demand’ special services, train numbers 09424 and 09423, following approval from the Railway Board.
The services will continue with the same composition and existing timetable. Earlier, the last run of train number 09424 was scheduled to run till May 29, but the operation has now been extended, with revised schedules officially notified by the railway authorities.
Train number 09424 (Ahmedabad–Mangaluru Junction) will operate every Friday from July 3 to 31, covering five trips in total. Likewise, train number 09423 (Mangaluru Junction–Ahmedabad) will run every Saturday from July 4 to August 1, also for five trips.
The Konkan Railway and Southern Railway zones have issued revised timings, clarifying that there will be no change in the schedule between Ahmedabad and Roha. However, timings have been revised for stations between Roha and Mangaluru Junction in both directions.
Train number 09424 will depart Ahmedabad at 4 am every Friday and proceed via Nadiad (04:55), Anand (05:12), Vadodara (05:45), Bharuch (06:47), Surat (07:35), Vapi (09:10), Vasai (11:10), entering Maharashtra, followed by Bhiwandi (11:42), Panvel (12:55), Pen (01:40), Roha (02:20), Mangaon (02:46), Khed (04:10), Chiplun (04:50), Savarda (05:18), Sangameshwar Road (05:48), Ratnagiri (07:00), Rajapur Road (08:20), Vaibhavwadi Road (08:38), Kankavali (09:18), Sindhudurg (09:40), Kudal (09:54), Sawantwadi Road (10:16), Thivim (11:18), entering Goa, followed by Karmali (11:48), Madgaon Junction (01:00), Canacona (01:50), entering Karnataka via Karwar (02:28), then Ankola (02:54), Gokarna Road (03:06), Kumta (03:40), Murudeshwar (04:40), Bhatkal (05:10), Mookambika Road Byndoor (05:24), Kundapura (06:00), Udupi (06:38), Mulki (07:30), Surathkal (07:46), Tokur (08:20), and arriving at Mangaluru Junction at 9 pm on Saturday.
Train number 09423 (Mangaluru Junction–Ahmedabad) will depart every Saturday at 10.30 pm from Mangaluru Junction and follow the reverse route via Tokur (11:15), Surathkal (11:22), Mulki (11:32), Udupi (12:10), Kundapura (12:32), Mookambika Road Byndoor (01:00), Bhatkal (01:12), Murudeshwar (01:34), Kumta (02:18), Gokarna Road (02:44), Ankola (02:56), Karwar (03:30), Canacona (04:10), Madgaon Junction (05:10), Karmali (05:50), Thivim (06:12), Sawantwadi Road (06:40), Kudal (07:10), Sindhudurg (07:22), Kankavali (07:44), Vaibhavwadi Road (08:20), Rajapur Road (08:40), Ratnagiri (10:30), Sangameshwar Road (11:18), Savarda (11:40), Chiplun (12:18), Khed (12:50), Mangaon (02:48), Roha (03:40), Pen (04:10), Panvel (04:50), Bhiwandi (06:00), Vasai (06:35), Vapi (08:18), Surat (09:55), Bharuch (10:46), Vadodara (11:45), Anand (12:32), Nadiad (12:49), and arriving at Ahmedabad at 02:15 am the next day.
Several organisations and community representatives from Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka have welcomed the extension, describing it as a timely relief for inter-state passengers, particularly members of the Tulu-Kannadiga community.
Railway authorities have stated that the extension is expected to ease congestion on the route and improve passenger convenience, urging travellers to make greater use of such services to support sustained operations and possible long-term augmentation of the train.