South Western Railway (SWR) has extended the cancellation of train services on the Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Karwar/Kannur-Bengaluru route till September 29.
According to a communiqué from SWR, the Bengaluru-Mangaluru-Karwar/Kannur-Bengaluru night express remains cancelled till September 29.
Similarly, the Yeshwantpur-Mangaluru Junction-Yeshwantpur and Yeshwantpur-Karwar-Yeshwantpur tri-weekly services too will remain cancelled during the period, SWR said. These two services, however, will run on the Yeshwantpur-Hassan-Yeshwantpur route.
SWR may take another week to restore the track in the Ghat stretch between Sakleshpur and Subrahmanya Road stations of the Hassan-Mangaluru section.
Massive landslips — counting up to 68, as per the SWR — on the ghat section has snapped rail connectivity between Bengaluru and the coast ever since the second week of August. Heavy rains that triggered several landslides across the Western Ghats in the Kodagu and Shiradi regions also caused disruption of rail traffic in the region.
According to SWR’s chief public relations officer E. Vijaya, an engineering team from Mysuru division undertook track restoration work by deploying over 200 workers and more than 20 earth-movers. While the restoration was affected initially by the downpour and recurring landslips, it gathered pace after the rains subsided.
However, a massive block of earth and boulders, about 15 feet high, near Siribagilu station is yet to be cleared. Workers were able to find the track and the tunnel opening on Tuesday on the stretch, and clearing of the debris is on, she said.
The CPRO said a critical location near the Yedakumari station, where the track was supported using sand bags, has now been completely stabilised with proper embankment. At the same time, restoration work is under way near Siribagilu station. At least five more days are required to clear the debris, she said.
Considerable loss
While the common man is in trouble following the cancellation of express trains, the SWR is losing considerable amounts in revenue as it cannot operate goods train services as well between Bengaluru and the coast.
Container trains and other goods trains from New Mangalore Port and other places used to move via the ghat section. Train operations on the ghat section is restricted to six pairs in a span of 24 hours; of them, two pairs are passenger trains (one pair of night express and another pair of two tri-weekly day trains). SWR, which does not want to lose on freight revenue, is hesitant to introduce more passenger trains.
