Fallout of likely diversion: Additional rail services to Hassan, Mangaluru sought

February 06, 2017 12:09 am | Updated 12:09 am IST - Mysuru:

Rail users and stakeholders from Mysuru have raised the demand for additional trains to Hassan and Mangaluru to compensate for the “imminent” diversion of the current services originating from Bengaluru over the new route via Shravanabelagola.

The Commissioner for Railway Safety (CRS) will inspect the stretch between Nelamangala and Shravanabelagola —which is part of the new railway line connecting Bengaluru and Hassan — on Monday. Once commissioned, the new railway line will reduce the distance from Bengaluru-Hassan-Mangaluru from 13 hours to 8-9 hours.

Sources in the South Western Railway (SWR) told The Hindu that diversion of 16517/16523 — the amalgamated Bengaluru-Kannur-Karwar Express via Mysuru — may not be immediate but will be a reality soon owing to shorter distance and reduced commuting time for passengers. Also, the proposed new day train between Bengaluru and Mangaluru via Mysuru announced a few years ago may also be operated via the new route owing to shorter distance.

Currently, the trains originating from Bengaluru use two routes — via Mysuru and Hassan — entailing a distance of 448 km and another via Arsikere which entails a distance of nearly 400 km. But once the Bengaluru-Hassan new railway line via Shravanabelagola is commissioned, the distance will shrink to around 355 km besides obviating the need for engine reversals at Mysuru and Hassan — which consumes about one hours time.

‘’If the current services are diverted via the new route, rail users from Mysuru and surrounding regions will be bereft of railway connectivity to Mangaluru and hence additional services are a must,” said Krishna Prasad and T.P. Lokesh of the Karnataka Railway Vedike.

Mr. Krishna Prasad suggested that the amalgamated trains (16517/16523) be made independent and run via Shravanabelagola-Hassan and the new day train be operated via Mysuru. Alternatively, the Vedike members suggested that the Mysuru-Shravanabelagola service — which is sparingly patronised — be instead diverted to Mangaluru from Hassan. But introduction of new trains via Hassan and Mangaluru will require negotiations with the Hassan-Mangalore Rail Development Corporation Ltd. (HMRDC) which has developed the stretch for freight operations, according to railway officials. They said according to the framework of operation of the Special Purpose Vehicle, the line capacity is to be used primarily for freight operations and introduction of new services will hinge on line capacity to handle additional traffic besides HMRDC permission and access fee.

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