However it continues to be tri-weekly service
Eight months after it was promised in the Railway Budget, the Yeshwanthpur – Mangalore Intercity Express (day train) has been extended to Karwar from November 14, from Yeshwanthpur, and from November 15, from Karwar.
However, the promise of making it a daily service is yet to be fulfilled as the train continues to be a tri-weekly service.
Also, rail users' opposition over the train not touching Mangalore Central station, demand to reduce the running hours between Mangalore and Karwar, and commercial stops at taluk headquarters have not been considered while the South Western Railway decided to extend the services.
Train no. 16515, Yeshwanthpur – Karwar Intercity Express leaves Yeshwanthpur at 7.30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays to reach Mangalore Junction (Kankanadi) at 5.45 p.m. It leaves Kankanadi at 5.50 p.m. to reach Karwar at 11 p.m.
In the return direction, train no. 16516 Karwar – Yeshwanthpur Intercity Express leaves Karwar on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays at 5.30 a.m. to reach Mangalore Junction at 10.50 a.m. It leaves Mangalore Junction at 10.55 a.m. to reach Yeshwanthpur at 10.25 p.m., according to an official release.
The train will halt at Udupi, Mookambika Road (Byndoor), Bhatkal and Kumta. The trains will run via Mangalore Junction without touching Mangalore Central.
‘Rework schedule'
The Pashchima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivriddhi Samiti had urged the SWR to rework the running hours of the train between Mangalore and Karwar. The distance could be covered within three hours thereby benefitting a large number of travellers between the two coastal cities, samiti members had said. The samiti had also objected to the train not touching Mangalore Central, the nerve centre of Mangalore city.
Frequency increased
Meanwhile, as promised in the budget, the Railways has converted train nos. 12079/12080 Bangalore city – Hubli – Bangalore city Janshatabdi Express to a daily train from November 12.
Earlier, it was running six days a week. The Railways, however, is yet to effect the change on its online information portal – www.indianrail.gov.in about the availability of this service daily.
