Following poor passenger patronage to Mangaluru Central-Madgaon-Mangaluru Central Intercity Superfast Express (22636/22635), the Railways is contemplating speeding up the train and changing its timings to benefit more travellers.
Presently, the train departs from Mangaluru at 8.15 a.m. to reach Madgaon at 3.30 p.m. – a total travel time of 7.15 hours to traverse 319 km with just 8 commercial halts. It then leaves Madgaon at 4 p.m. to reach Mangaluru at 11 p.m. (Monsoon timing) and 10 p.m. (non-Monsoon timing). However, many express trains, including the Matsyagandha Express that has 14 commercial halts, take about 6 hours.
Since its launch on February 24, 2014, the train has not received much patronage. It was just 8 per cent in 2015. Sources say that, at present, an average of 60 passengers use the train. The number of coaches has been reduced from 24 to just 8. The lone air-conditioned chair car has also been removed.
The availability of other trains, including Mangaluru-Madgaon Passenger, Kasargod-Mookambika Road Byndoor Passenger and Bengaluru-Karwar Express, just before and after the Intercity Express, also contributed to the low patronage.
The demand from passengers in the coastal region was to start a new train that left Vasco-da-Gama in the morning and left Mangaluru in the afternoon since no services were present there. The Intercity Express was introduced much against the demand of the people. At present, the Madgaon-Mangaluru Central-Madgaon diesel multiple unit (DEMU) train, leaving Madgaon in the morning and Mangaluru in the afternoon, has managed to fill the void. As such, rumours were afoot in the region that the Intercity Express could be cancelled, following which people had demanded its extension to Mumbai (Dadar), at least as a tri-weekly express.
No cancelation
Sources clarified that there was no move to cancel the train. Instead, the zone has made a recommendation to the Railway Board to change the timing of the operations as well as to speed up the train.
The train could depart at around 10 a.m. and reach Madgaon in about six hours (around 4 p.m.). During the return journey, the train takes about six hours. There is no train towards the North from Mangaluru between 9 a.m. and noon.
The change in timings however would come into force only after the new Railway Timetable comes out in October, sources added.
