The demand for a direct train between Hubballi and the pilgrim centre of Varanasi is being fulfilled as Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu will flag off a new train through video link on Tuesday.
A release by South Western Railways stated that regular services of the new train will commence on May 28 from Varanasi and on June 2 from here.
At present, rail connectivity between Hubballi and Varanasi and Hubballi and Jabalpur is very limited and through two changeover points. In addition, the new train will serve the people of Vijayapura and Gadag region by connecting Hubballi/Solapur with suitable schedule, the release said.
Train No 17323 Hubballi-Varanasi Weekly Express will leave Hubballi on Fridays at 5.50 p.m. to reach Varanasi on Sundays at 11.55 a.m. It will have stops at Gadag, Badami, Bagalkot, Almatti, Vijayapura, Solapur, Daund, Ahmednagar, Kopargaon, Manmad Jn., Bhusaval Jn., Khandwa, Itarsi Jn., Pipariya, Narasinghpur, Jabalpur, Katni, Maihar, Satna, Manikpur Jn., Chheoki and Mirzapur.
In the return direction, Train No 17324 Varanasi-Hubballi Weekly Express will leave Varanasi on Sundays at 9.05 p.m. to reach Hubballi on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. En route , the train will have stops at Mirzapur, Chheoki, Manikpur Jn., Satna, Maihar, Katni, Jabalpur, Narasinghpur, Pipariya, Itarsi Jn., Khandwa, Bhusaval Jn., Manmad Jn., Kopargaon, Ahmednagar, Daund, Solapur, Vijayapura, Almatti, Bagalkot, Badami and Gadag. The train will have 16 coaches.
