Notwithstanding the clamour for more passenger trains between Bengaluru and Mangaluru following the closure of Shiradi Ghat for six months, South Western Railway may not introduce the express train announced in the 2014-15 Railway Budget in the immediate future, let alone operating any special trains.
South Western Railway General Manager Pradeep Kumar Saxena said that there were operational constraints on the ghat section between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road.
“We are sorting out the issue with the Commissioner of Railway Safety,” he said.
Trains announced in the budget are introduced in phases over 12 months and South Western Railway has already introduced about a dozen trains.
Asked whether the zone is considering introducing special trains during the Shiradi Ghat’s closure period, Mr. Saxena said, “We have not been taken into confidence. No formal request as such has been made [by the State government].” Even otherwise, it is difficult to introduce more trains due to the ghat section restrictions, he said.
Individuals and organisations, including Prakash Mandoth of FKCCI, Sanjeev Dyamannavar of praja.in and even Dakshina Kannada Deputy Commissioner A.B. Ibrahim has been urging Railways to run special trains besides introducing the budget-announced train between Bengaluru and Mangaluru to alleviate the woes of the travelling public.
The journey by bus, which used to take about eight hours, now consumes 10 to 12 hours on diverted routes, either via the Charmadi Ghat or via the Sampaje Ghat.
Passengers often get stranded on the Charmadi Ghat due to frequent road blocks.
Sources in the Railways however said that it is not difficult to run special trains or introduce the budget-announced train, if there is a ‘push’ from the the political leadership.
The ghat restrictions permit the operation of six pairs of trains in 24 hours and presently about five pairs, including two Express trains, are running.
There is also a lull in freight train movement since two months with only two-three pairs running a day, sources said.
Sources also maintained that rakes too are available, including for the budget-announced train.
South Western Railway may even consider running premium specials during the Shiradi Ghat closure, they suggested.
