Coastal district’s long-pending demand for an additional train between Mangalore and Bangalore was included in the Railway budget 2013-14.
Though the train route has not been made public, a copy of route map available with Deccan Herald shows that it would pass through Kerala.
The decision may not bring cheers to people of Dakshina Kannada, as the travelling time is likely to be at least three hours more than the current Mangalore-Bangalore train and the fares are also likely to be more as it takes a circuitous route.
According to the route map, the Yeshwantpur-Mangalore Central weekly Express will depart from Yeshwantpur on Sundays and from Mangalore on Mondays.
It will have stoppages at Kasargod, Kannur, Thalassery, Vadagara, Kozhikode, Tirur, Shornur, Palakkad, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Kuppam, Bangarpet junction, Krishnarajapuram and Banasawadi.
The timings and commencement of the new trains are yet to announced. However, the Railways has asked the divisional authorities to provide details about the trains that are being included in the new railway time-table, which will come into effect on July 1.
By conservative estimate, the train is likely to take at least three hours more than the trains between Mangalore and Bangalore.
Now, two trains--16518 Kannur-Yeshwantpur daily express (via Mysore) and a tri-weekly 16516 Karwar-Yeshwantpur express (via Arsikere)-- passing through Mangalore Central and Mangalore Junction respectievely take about 12 hours to reach Bangalore.
The Mangalore Railway Action committee, which met Union Railway Minister Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi a few days ago, has, in fact, demanded an additional train between the two cities. The committee, in its memorandum, submitted to the Minister pointed out that the even if two more trains are introduced, there will be sufficient demand for seats.
Other new trains
Lokmanya Tilak-Kochuveli bi-weekly express, the new train announced in the Railway budget, will depart from Lokmanya Tilak Terminal station on Tuesdays and Saturdays and on Thursdays and Mondays from Kochuveli station. Madgaon-Mangalore Intercity daily express will have stoppage at Surathkal, Udupi, Bhatkal, Kumta, Karwar and Canacona.
Mangalore-Kacheguda (Andhra Pradesh) bi-weekly express will leave Mangalore on Wednesdays, Saturdays and on Tuesdays, Fridays from Kacheguda. Thiruvananthapuram-Nizamuddin weekly express will have stops at Mangalore junction, Udupi and Karwar in Karnataka.
DEMU
Newly announced Bhatkal-Thokur and Madgaon-Karwar Diesel engine multiple unit (DEMU) services will have service six days a week service barring Sundays and will stop at all stations en-route.