Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Feb 14: The newly introduced night train between the city and Bengaluru will begin its maiden journey from the city on February 21. The train will run as per its scheduled time table with effect from February 22. With the introduction of this train, the railways would be meeting a longstanding demand of the people from the coastal belt of Karnataka.

Dakshina Kannada Member of Parliament, Nalin Kumar Kateel, will initiate the railway service at 11 am on February 21.

This train currently will be operated only three days in a week. It is expected to run every day since March this year. Time table for the new train had been finalized and submitted to the railway board by the south-western railway on January 24 for which the railway board approval has been received.

This train will take 11.5 hours to cover 364 km distance between Bengaluru and Mangaluru and 9.5 hours on the opposite side. The train takes more time on its journey to the city from Bengaluru because of safety measures in Ghat section and crossing by other trains.

This train will leave from here at 7 pm on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and reach Bengaluru at 4.30 am. On its return journey from Bengaluru, it will leave Bengaluru at 4.30 pm on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays and reach here at 4 am.

Currently, Yashwanthpur Express train which runs via Mysuru on three days and four days via Shravanabelagola, is operational between the two cities. Gomateshwara Express train which leaves Mangaluru Junction station at 11.30 am every day  except Sundays, reaches Bengaluru at 8.30 am via Shravanabelagola.