Railways cancels two trains to Nelamangala

With the introduction of two new trains, the railways have cancelled the two existing trains between Bengaluru and Nelamangala. Though the official statement from the South Western Railway said the cancellation of services is temporary, senior officials said the measure is permanent since there was no patronage for them.

A railway official said there was a plan to introduce a new diesel electric multiple unit (DEMU) between Yeshwantpur and Hassan stations but officials may decide against it considering that two new trains are running between the stations.  Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu had flagged off a Superfast Express between Yeshwantpur and Hassan while agreeing to extend the Mysuru-Shravanabelagola train to Yeshwantpur.

With this, the rail bus (76521/2) between Yeshwantpur and Nelamangala, will be removed from service while the passenger train (56579/80) between Krantiveera Sangolli Rayanna Bengaluru and Nelamangala stations will be cancelled. Railway officials at Yeshwantpur station said the patronage on the route was so poor that even the rail bus that had a capacity of about 50 people, used to carry only 20 people. A senior official said the passenger train with 10 coaches hardly carried more than 100 people. “There were times when the train had just 20 people. Running a whole train for a handful of people is uneconomical,” he added.