Mysuru-Varanasi-Mysuru train flagged off

SWR plans semi high-speed trains between Mysuru-B'luru

Mysuru-Varanasi-Mysuru bi-weekly express train was flagged off by Mysuru-Kodagu MP Prathap Simha, from Mysore railway station, on Thursday.

The train (16229/16230) will leave Mysuru station on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7.20 am and reach Varanasi on Thursdays and Saturdays at 11.50 am, respectively.

On the return journey, the train will depart Varanasi on Thursdays and Saturdays at 9.05 pm and reach Mysuru on Sundays and Tuesdays respectively at 3 am, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), South Western Railway (SWR), Mysuru, Rajkumar Lal told media.

The train will pass through Mandya, Bengaluru, Tumakuru, Arsikere, Kaduru, Chikkajajur, Chitradurga, Ballari, Guntkal, Adhoni, Mantralaya, Raichur, Yadgir, Kalaburgi, Solapur, Narasinghpur, Jabalpur and Mirzapur before, stopping at Varanasi.

It is a 16-compartment train with two AC coaches, six sleeper compartments (second class), six general compartments (second class and ladies cum luggage compartments).

Lal said, besides, Varanasi, people of Mysuru can also visit the two more prominent pilgrim centres namely Mantralaya and Shirdi, en route Varanasi. The same train serves as an additional train to Bengaluru on two days in a week at a convenient time.

Semi high-speed train

While it may take some more time for the high speed train between Mysuru and Bengaluru to become a reality, the South Western Railways is planning to launch semi-high speed train between the two cities, soon after the completion of the ongoing track doubling works.

According to Lal the train will be operated at the speed of 110 kmph to 130 kmph.
Lal said, the Chinese experts team that has completed its survey of Mysuru-Bengaluru-Chennai route for the proposed high-speed train, is expected to submit the report soon.

Simha said, measures would be taken to shift the Tipu armoury at Srirangapatna soon to facilitate the ongoing track doubling works, which are expected to be completed by next March.

Chamaraja MLA Vasu reminded the railway authorities about the necessity for a railway station at Metagalli, which would help decongest traffic at the main station in the heart of the city. Mysore Urban Development Authority has already taken up works on laying a road parallel to the track, at an estimated cost of Rs 16 crore.