Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru: Indian Railways has launched a special express train service between Hyderabad and Mangaluru Central from Wednesday to post-summer passenger congestion and strengthen long-distance connectivity across southern states.
The service, introduced by the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway, will operate four trips in June and connects Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala with key commercial, cultural and pilgrimage stations along the route. Officials said the move has been taken in view of sustained high passenger demand on the inter-state corridor.
The Hyderabad–Mangaluru service (Train No. 07097) departs Hyderabad at 4:20 am every Wednesday and arrives at Mangaluru Central at 9:30 am on Thursday. The return service, Mangaluru–Hyderabad (Train No. 07098), leaves Mangaluru Central at 8:00 pm every Thursday and reaches Hyderabad at 4:00 am on Saturday. The special service will run through the month from early June, with multiple weekly departures in each direction.
To handle heavy passenger traffic, the special express is operating with a 24-coach formation designed to cater to different categories of travellers. The composition includes 3 AC 2-tier coaches, 5 AC 3-tier coaches, 10 sleeper class coaches, 4 general second class coaches and 2 luggage-cum-brake vans, ensuring wide accessibility across all fare segments.
During its journey, the train halts at several important stations across three southern states, significantly improving regional connectivity. In the Telangana and Andhra Pradesh region, stoppages include Begumpet, Lingampalli, Vikarabad, Raichur, Mantralayam Road, which serves devotees of Sri Raghavendra Swamy, Guntakal, Anantapur, Dharmavaram and Hindupur.
In Karnataka, it stops at Sedam, Sulehalli West, Yadgir, Krishna, Yelahanka, Krishnarajapuram (K R Puram) and Bangarapet. In the Tamil Nadu and Kerala sector, halts include Kuppam, Salem Junction, Erode Junction, Tiruppur, Palakkad Junction, Kozhikode, Vadakara, Thalassery, Kannur, Payyanur, Kanhangad and Kasaragod.
Railway officials said the special service is expected to ease congestion and improve passenger convenience on one of the busiest long-distance routes in southern India, adding that it will ensure “better connectivity and smoother travel experience” during the peak travel period.