Two trains announced in the Railway Budget for 2013-14 are likely to be flagged off from here in a fortnight, according to Mohan A. Menon, Additional Divisional Railway Manager of Palakkad Division of Southern Railway. He told The Hindu on Tuesday that the trains – Mangalore-Madgaon Inter City (daily) and the weekly train Mangalore-Kacheguda train via Coimbatore, Reninta and Gooty – are likely to be flagged off by Union Minister for Railways M. Mallikarjun Kharge. The tentative dates given were February 23 or 24. “The dates are yet to be confirmed,” Mr. Menon said. He said the rakes were ready and all preparations had been done for the introduction of the trains.
There is excitement among the commuters about the Mangalore-Madgaon inter-city train. “We will celebrate its introduction in Udupi,” said R.L. Dais of Udupi Yathri Sangha. It is expected to boost the tourism of Mangalore and Udupi.
The two trains were among the four trains announced for the region – Bangalore-Mangalore (weekly), Diesel Electric Multiple Unit (DEMU) service between Bhatkal and Thokur – being the other two. The railways had also announced extension of the Mangalore-Tiruchirapalli Express train up to Puducherry, which has already been implemented.
Passengers unhappyThough Bangalore-Mangalore weekly has been introduced, the people here expressed unhappiness that the train takes the longer route via Salem and Bangarpet making it irrelevant for the commuters of the State.
On the other hand, Mr. Menon said the DEMU service between Bhatkal and Thokur (near Mangalore) is unlikely to be introduced as no DEMU service has been sanctioned to Southern Railway as yet. “No train set has been received,” he said.
Besides DEMU services are considered to be unpopular in view of the consumption of diesel and because of its economic and environmental impacts. Instead Multiple Electric units – which run on electricity – are the preferred services, he said.
