Rail users in coastal Karnataka have urged the Ministry of Railways to ensure the early arrival of the Bengaluru-Karwar four-days-a-week overnight express by tweaking the arrival and departure timing at Mangaluru Central.
The arrival of Train No. 16511/13 Bengaluru-Kannur/Karwar overnight Express at Mangaluru Central can be at 5.20 a.m. instead of the current 6 a.m. The Karwar portion can be dispatched at 5.40 a.m. instead of 6.20 am. Thus, it will reach Karwar at 11.10 a.m. instead of 12.30 p.m. (non-monsoon) and 1.50 p.m. (monsoon), said Kunjal Venkatesh Kini, member of National Railway Users’ Consultative Council.
In a letter to Konkan and Southern Railways, Mr. Kini said to ensure the revised timing at Mangaluru Central, it should arrive at Subrahmanya Road Station at 3 a.m. and depart at 3.10 a.m. instead of the present 3.15 a.m. and 3.25 a.m.
Since Southern Railway has already concurred to revise the departure timing of trains 16512/14 and 16518/23 (Kannur/Karwar-Bengaluru overnight express) at 8.30 p.m. instead of 8.55 p.m., these trains would have crossed the Ghat section before 16511/13 enters the Ghat, he noted.
Only Konkan Railway has to agree to hand over Karwar-Bengaluru trains at Thokur to Southern Railway at 7.20 p.m. to facilitate their arrival at Mangaluru Central by 8 p.m., Mr. Kini noted.
While arranging the departure of 16513 at 5.40 a.m. from Mangaluru Central, the departure of Mangaluru Central-Madgaon Passenger (Train 56640) should be postponed from 5.40 a.m. to 6.20 a.m., he said.
Meanwhile, the Kannur portion of the train (16511) may be dispatched at 6 a.m. instead of 6.55 a.m. If there was terminal constraint at Kannur to receive the train early, the train may be run till Kozhikode, Mr. Kini suggested.
Mr. Kini noted that advancing Karwar Express’ arrival time by more than an hour would immensely benefit residents of coastal districts, who could have a cheaper mode of transport to reach their places. Buses take lesser time to reach these places from Bengaluru, he said.
