The Vijayapura-Mangaluru Junction Tatkal Special, connecting North Karnataka with Coastal Karnataka arrived at Mangaluru Junction on Tuesday on its maiden journey.
Said to be the longest intra-state service traversing central and south Karnataka during its journey, the train has filled the vacuum of absence of a direct service.
Though slated to run daily till the first week of February, the special service is likely to be made a regular one after obtaining clearance from the Railway Board, said sources in South Western Railway.
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The South Western Railway (SWR) introduced the special train to clear extra rush. It has six Second Class Sleeper coaches, one AC 2-Tier and 3-Tier coach each, four general class coaches and two luggage-cum-brake vans.
The train leaves Vijayapura at 6 p.m.; Gadag at 10.30 p.m.; Hubballi at 11.45 p.m.; Davanagere at 2.35 a.m. and Hassan at 6.15 a.m. to reach Mangaluru Junction at 12.40 p.m. In the return direction, the train leaves Mangaluru Junction at 4.30 p.m.; Hassan at 10.02 p.m.; Davanagere at 1.20 a.m.; Hubballi at 5.15 a.m. and Gadag at 6.55 a.m. to reach Vijayapura at 11.45 a.m. It has stops at Basavanabagewadi, Almatti, Bagalkot, Badami, Hole Alur, Gadag, Hubballi, Haveri, Ranebennur, Harihar, Davanagere, Kadur, Arsikere, Hassan, Sakleshpur, Subrahmanya Road, Kabaka Puttur and Bantwal.