Title - Bangalore-Karwar train journey to take 18 hours

‘We are planning to cut down the running time’.The journey between Bangalore and Karwar by the extended night train will take 18 hours according to the tentative schedule released by the Railway Board. The bifurcation of the Yeshwantpur-Mangalore-Kannur Express will take place at the Mangalore Central Railway Station.The board took the decision to extend the train to Karwar after the Karnataka High Court on September 19 expressed serious displeasure over the manner in which the board had been oblivious to the demands of people from coastal Karnataka, and instead extended the night train to Kannur much against their wishes.

According to the tentative timings approved by the board on the suggestions from the South Western Railway dated October 5, a copy of which is with The Hindu , Train no. 16517 leaves Yeshwantpur (Bangalore) at 8.35 p.m. to reach Bangalore city at 8.50 p.m.; Mysore at 11.30 p.m. and Mangalore Central at 8.35 a.m.

At the Mangalore Central Station, bifurcation of the train will take place. While a train with five coaches will leave for Kannur, another with 13 coaches will leave for Karwar at 8.45 a.m. and reach there at 2 p.m.

In the return journey, Train no. 16518 leaves Karwar at 2.40 p.m. to reach Mangalore Central at 8.05 p.m. After joining the Kannur coaches, the train leaves Mangalore Central at 8.20 p.m. to reach Mysore at 4.50 a.m., Bangalore City at 7.35 a.m. and Yeshwantpur at 8.10 a.m.

The Karwar formation will have one each general sitting, 2-tier air-conditioned, 3-tier air-conditioned, SLR and guard-cum-luggage van and 8 sleeper coaches, according to the schedule released.

Sources in South Western Railway (SWR) said the commercial halts between Mangalore and Karwar are likely to be the same given for the day train (16515/516), namely, Surathkal, Udupi, Kundapura, Mookambika Road (Byndoor), Bhatkal, Honnavar and Kumta.

The day train takes 16 hours 25 minutes for the entire journey.

“We are also planning to cut down the running time, but that will be effective from July next,” sources said. The Board has to take a decision if the running time has to be reduced from November 1 itself, they added.

According to a communiqué dated October 6 from South Western Railway to Southern and Konkan Railways, the formation of the train leaving Yeshwantpur will be as under: train engine, five coaches meant for Kannur followed by 13 coaches meant for Karwar.

The Kannur split coach service will leave Mangalore Central after the Karwar split coach departs, the communiqué said. In the return direction, the Kannur split coach service arrives first at Mangalore Central while the Karwar coaches will be attached to these coaches afterwards.

Passengers from Bangalore travelling to Karwar were worried whether the bifurcation will take place at Mangalore Junction (Kankanadi). Such a situation would have caused severe discomfort to them, said Anil Hegde of the Dakshina Kannada Rail Yatri Sangha.