Revision of Mangaluru-Vijayapura train timings sought

MANGALURU: Vijayapura Railway Action Committee and a railway activist from Mangaluru have urged the South Western Railway (SWR) to revise Mangaluru-Vijayapura train timings.
Rail users have appreciated the SWRs move to reintroduce the train service between Vijayapura and Mangaluru via Arsikere-Hassan.
However, the Vijayapura Railway Action Committee, in its memorandum, stated that the vital issue concerning the timings has not been addressed.
It is learnt that the timing of the proposed train would continue to remain the same, which means that the train would arrive at Mangaluru junction at 12.40pm and leave Mangaluru at 4.30pm.
Activist GK Bhat from Mangaluru, supported by Anil Hegde, technical advisor, and Raveesha from Bengaluru said that a large number of people are travelling overnight between Vijayapura/Hubballi and Mangaluru by road.
There are a lot of pilgrims visiting Kukke Subrahmanya and Dharmasthala temples and labourers travelling regularly.
Also, there are students from north Karnataka pursuing their higher education in Mangaluru and surrounding places and people from north interior places of Karnataka visit Mangaluru to avail advance medical facilities.
The rail users have stated that to reap the best benefit of the train service, the train must arrive at Mangaluru before 9.30am and leave after 5.30pm.
Activist GK Bhat has written to the Bengaluru divisional railway manager to revise the timings for day trains 06540, 06212, 06576 and 06211,06539,06575 plying between Mangaluru and Yesvanthpur. Presently, there are three pairs of trains operating as special trains between Mangaluru and Yesvanthpur. Of these three trains, two trains leave Mangaluru at 11.30am and reach Yesvanthpur at 8.30pm and one train leaves from Mangaluru at 9.15am and reaches at 8pm.
The rail users want the above trains to reach before 6pm and hence start the train service from Mangaluru junction at 8.15am. They have also requested revision of train timings of its pairing train in the opposite direction so that the train resumes service from Yesvanthpur at 9.30am instead of present 7am.
Bhat said that the arrival timing at Yesvanthpur is not convenient, especially for elderly citizens and other passengers who have to travel further.