Mangalore Day-train to Bangalore to become Reality from August 29

25 August 2009

One of the long-cherished dreams of the citizens of the district will be realized on August 29, when the day-train services between the city and Bangalore will be flagged off from the local railway station by union minister of state for railways, K H Muniyappa, at 8.45 am. However, the expectant railway passengers have a small disappointment too, as the train would be run thrice a week instead of the daily services demanded by them and it will start from here and Yashwantpur station in Bangalore, on alternative mornings.

A small inaugural function will be arranged in the Central railway station here at 8.45 am on August 29. The train, which will leave from here at 9 am, will reach its destination, Yeshwantpur, at 7.30 pm, said Mangalore Railway Development Action Committee convener P V Mohan.

It is learnt, that the department of railways faces shortage of rakes for running the train on a daily basis. As it could get only 16 spare rakes so far, it has not been able to run the train on a daily basis. At the same time, Hassan-Mangalore Railway Development Company has raised objections for the running of passenger trains on this route, as it fears that it would lose revenue in the form of a cut in the number of goods trains that can be run on this route. The railway department has therefore, found a via media for the present, by running the train on alternative days, it is gathered.

There has been a demand to extend this train up to Kundapur. Ralways might consider this demand in course of time. At the same time, the department is not prepared to yield to the pressure brought on it by the people and the political personalities, to cancel the proposed extension of the night train from Bangalore up to Kannur. Most probably, the extension will come into effect from October this year, and the train will run as an express train instead of converting it into local between the city and Kannur, it is learnt.

It is analyzed, the central government feels that cancellation of the extension of this train will have adverse effect on the prospects of the Congress Party in the assembly elections scheduled in Kerala, in about two years time from now.

After a goods train got derailed between Yedakumeri and Donigal stations on the Western Ghats on the Bangalore route on Saturday night, the passenger train to Bangalore had been cancelled. The train service was resumed on Monday night.

source daijiworld.com