The Hindu : Karnataka News : New train service brings happiness, disappointment

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Nov 26, 2007
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Karnataka

Karnataka

New train service brings happiness, disappointment

Anil Kumar Sastry

There is a demand to run the Bangalore, Mangalore service via Arsikere

BANGALORE: The passenger train service between Bangalore and Mangalore via Mysore has met a long awaited need of travellers between the two cities. Enthusiastic passengers have already offered suggestions on how the train service could be made more efficient and convenient.

The suggestion that the new service be run via Arsikere instead of Mysore to save two hours of travel time is one among them.

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad had announced operation of two trains between Bangalore and Mangalore, one via Mysore and the other via Arsikere. However, it is only the first train that is to be operationalised for the present.

As per the tentative timetable, the Yeshwanthpur-Mangalore Express (6517) leaves Yeshwanthpur at 8.35 p.m., Bangalore city at 8.55 p.m., Mandya at 10.45 p.m., Mysore at 1.10 a.m., Hassan at 2.25 a.m., Sakleshpur at 3.25 a.m., Subramanya Road at 5.35 a.m., Kabaka Puttur at 6.25 a.m. and Bantwal at 6.50 a.m., before reaching Mangalore at 8.05 a.m. the next day.

In the return direction, the Mangalore-Yeshwanthpur Express (6518) leaves Mangalore at 7.45 p.m. to reach Bangalore city at 6.50 a.m., and Yeshwanthpur at 7.40 a.m. The distance covered is 453 km. The new train takes nearly 12 hours to reach Mangalore, which by bus is an eight-hour journey.

Pangala Rajesh Rao, a regular traveller, said: “Once the Shiradi Ghat is thrown open again for bus traffic, I would prefer the shorter bus journey.”

If the train runs via Arsikere, the travel time could be reduced by nearly two hours and the distance by 50 km, according to C. Sunish, general secretary of the All-India Loco Running Staff Association (South Western Railway). A connecting train could be operated between Mysore and Hassan for the convenience of passengers from Mysore region, he said. There was no dearth of trains between Bangalore and Mysore. If train nos. 6517 and 6518 were run via Arsikere, it could help passengers from north Kerala to take connecting trains either to Bangalore or to Kasaragod and Kannur from Mangalore.

South-Western Railway general manager Praveen Kumar told The Hindu that there were practical difficulties in operating the service via Arsikere. The Arsikere-Hassan line is highly congested. Ruling out the possibility of diverting the via-Mysore train on the Arsikere route, Mr. Kumar said the train was sanctioned keeping in mind the requirements of travellers from the Mysore region.

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