Mangalore - Margao intercity train to chug-off in December

Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (GA)

Mangalore, Aug 3: The much-awaited Mangalore-Margao intercity train which was announced in the last railway budget will start chugging-off from this December, said Udupi-Chikamagalur MP K Jayaprakash Hegde. A final decision in this regard was taken during the meeting of the railway minister and the railway board recently.

The train will start from Mangalore Central at 8.15 am and shall reach Margao at 2 pm. On its return journey, the train will leave Margao railway station at 4.15 pm and shall arrive at 10 pm at the Mangalore Central station. The train will have stops at Udupi, Surathkal, Bhatkal, Kumta, Karwar and Madgaon railway stations.

As known, a passenger train is already in operation on this route for long but often the passengers have complained that its timings are quite inconvenient since it starts as early as 6.20 am at Mangalore Central station and reaches Margao station at 1.30 pm. On its return trip, the existing passenger train leaves Margao at 2 pm and arrives at Mangalore Central at 10 pm.

The proposed intercity train is scheduled to connect Vasco-Nizamuddin Goa Express which leaves at 3 pm for Delhi. It will also be a great help to coastal passengers travelling to Londa, Belgaum, Pune, Delhi and Shirdi.

Hegde also said that the Bhatkal - Thokur Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) train will also chug-off from December 2013