‘Operate Karwar train from Mangaluru at uniform time’ members of National Railway Users’ Consultative Council writes to authorities

Passengers in coastal Karnataka have urged the Railways to operate Bengaluru-Karwar overnight express trains (one four-days-a-week service and another tri-weekly service) at a uniform time from Mangaluru Central railway station. At present, Train No. 16513 (via Kunigal), which leaves Bengaluru at 7.15 p.m., reaches Mangaluru at 6 a.m. and departs at 6.20 a.m.. It reaches Karwar at 12.30 p.m. The tri-weekly service via Mysuru (16523), which leaves Bengaluru at 8.30 p.m., reaches Mangaluru Central at 8.15 a.m. and departs at 8.35 a.m. It arrives in Karwar at 2.30 p.m. This, according to Kunjal Venkatesh Kini, member of National Railway Users’ Consultative Council, has been causing inconvenience and confusion among the travelling public. If the tri-weekly service via Mysuru too is made to arrive at Mangaluru Central by 6 a.m. and depart at 6.20 a.m., both services would be running on the same timetable between Mangaluru and Karwar, he said. In a letter to the chairman and MD of Konkan Railway Corporation (KRCL), Mr. Kini said that both Southern Railway and the South Western Railway were prepared for a shift in timing of Train No. 16523, as per his discussions. While SWR owns the train, SR is the operating zone in Mangaluru region. The KRCL has to receive and operate the train beyond Mangaluru Junction at the changed timing, he said. Saying the KRCL’s concurrence would matter to change the timing of Train 16523, Mr. Kini urged the corporation to accept the proposal. According to Paschima Karavali Railway Yatri Abhivriddhi Samiti adviser Anil Hegde, an early morning daily express between Mangaluru and Karwar would provide the travelling public a regular service. Besides, the slot occupied by Train No. 16523 at Mangaluru Central would become vacant, thereby helping the Railways to bring in another train for travel to other parts of Karnataka, Mr. Hegde said. KRCL CMD Sanjay Gupta told The Hindu he has asked the operations department to examine the proposal. Source: The Hindu