Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Aug 19: For the convenience of passengers bound for Mysuru from Karnataka coast, a direct train service between Karwar and Mysuru via the city is expected to begin to run soon. Initially, this train is likely to run once a week and in course of time, its frequency is likely to be increased to four days a week.
The southwestern railway has prepared temporary timetable for the proposed train and sent to the southern railway and Konkan Railway for their nod. Once the permission is received, the southwestern railway will write to the Railway Board. The train will be a reality once the railway board gives its approval.
As per the prosed timetable, the train will begin its journey from Mysuru at 11.30 pm and reach Hassan at 1.30 am. It will reach the city junction station at 8.05 am and arrive at Karwar at 3.30 pm. This train will begin its return journey at 4.45 pm on Sundays and reach Mangaluru junction at 11.45 pm, Hassan at 4.55 am and Mysuru at 7.30 am.
Mysuru MP Pratap Simha, had urged the railways to run train between Mysuru and Karwar for four days every week. But the southwestern railway said that for the present this would not be possible at as the railway line on Western Ghat section is facing innumerable problems.
The stretch of the tracks between Subrahmanya Road and Sakleshpur is governed by several biodiversity-sensitive issues. The train takes 2.5 hours to move between these two stations as it has to move slowly. As three trains already run on this route, the railways does not permit more number of trains because of difficulty in adjusting the time, it is said.
The first of the three trains running on this route now are Mangaluru Central-Yeshwantpur Express train which leaves at 8.55 pm. This train moves via Shravanabelagola. The other train, Gomateshwara Express, leaves Mangaluru Junction at 11.30 am and reaches Bengaluru via Shravanabelagola. The recently-started Mangaluru-Yeshwantpur Express train starts from Mangaluru Junction on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30 pm.