Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jan 30: South western railway has decided to present a new year gift to railway commuters here by deciding to run an additional night train between the city and state capital, Bengaluru. This new train is expected to start running between these two destinations within a few days from now. 

Advance preparations are going on and technical permissions are being procured towards introducing this train. Initially, this train will run thrice a week, and by March this year, it is expected to start running every day. 

The south western railway has already finalized the time table of the new train and sent to the Railway Board for approval on January 24. The department is making preparations to begin operating the train immediately after the permission is received. 

As per the time table drawn up provisionally, the train is scheduled to leave Yashwanthpur Bengaluru station at 4.30 pm on Fridays, Sundays, and Tuesdays. The train will reach the city central station at 4 am on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays. On Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays, the train will leave city central station at 7 pm and reach Yashwanthpur station at 4.30 am the next day. The train from the city covers the distance of 364 kilometers in nine and half hours whereas the train in the opposite direction takes two hours more because of railway safety measures in ghat section and crossing of other trains. 

Currently, two trains are operated everyday to Bengaluru from the central station. Yashwanthpur Express leaves the city everyday at 8.55 pm and reaches Bengaluru at 7.30 am the next day. On three days every week, this train runs via Mysuru and on other four days, via Shravanabelagola. Gomateshwara Express which runs from the city Junction station on all days except Sundays leaves at 11.30 am and reaches Bengaluru at around 8.30 pm. This train moves via Shravanabelagola. 

The railway department has agreed to the demand made by MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, to extend the Tirupathi - Hassan daily train to Mangaluru Central. If this train leaves from here to Tirupathi every day, passengers travelling to Tirupathi will find it convenient. A final decision is expected on this issue shortly. 

Currently, Kachiguda Express which leaves central station on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 8.15 pm, reaches Renigunta near Tirupathi at 1 pm the next day. Viveka Express which leaves central station at 11 pm on Saturdays to Santragachi station, Kolkata, reaches Tirupathi at 1.30 pm the next day. The Navayuga Express to Jammu which leaves on Monday evenings at 5 pm reaches Tirupathi at 9.30 am the next day. 

The railway department also proposes to start running another inter city train between the city and Bengaluru on the model of Mangaluru - Margao train, which will be a chair car. 

MP, Nalin Kumar Kateel, said that the railway department has agreed to run the new night train between the city and Bengaluru, and it might finalize timing and begin to run within a few days. He said that from March onward, this train will begin to run every day. 

West Coast Railway Passengers Development Committee president, Hanumantha Kamath, said that some might encounter problem because of the proposed time of the new train, which leaves in the evenings. However, he said that the people should wholeheartedly welcome the new train as they are getting a new train, and efforts to change its timings can be made later. If there is opposition now, the train may not be introduced, he opined.