Title - Karnataka : Bangalore-Karwar night train service likely soon

Railway Board accepts High Court’s suggestion for bifurcating
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Here’s some good news for those who have been demanding a night train service to reach Udupi, Kundapura, Bhatkal and Karwar from Bangalore.

The Railway Board has decided to bifurcate the existing Yeshwantpur-Mangalore-Kannur Express (train nos. 16517/16518) at Mangalore. So the same train will branch out into two and one will go to Kannur in Kerala while the other will go to Karwar. This would ensure direct night train connectivity between Bangalore and Karwar as per the demand of the people of the region.

The Railway Board on Monday submitted this information to a High Court Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Vikramajit Sen and Justice B.V. Nagarathna. The Bench was hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition by advocates Shankar Bhat and others, who have sought night train service to Karwar from Bangalore.

During the hearing on September 17, the Bench had asked the Railway Board why it was not responding to the demand of the people for night train service between Bangalore and Karwar.

The Bench had made two suggestions: either to convert the existing Bangalore-Karwar day train into a night train or to branch out the existing Bangalore-Mangalore night train, so that one goes to Kannur, another to Karwar.

Appreciating the decision of the Railway Board, the High Court Bench said it would expect the decision to be implemented by November 1. On the issue of meeting passenger capacity, the Bench said: “We are informed that at present 17 coaches are being operated and it may be increased to 24, and therefore it appears that there is no difficulty in increasing the capacity to accommodate passengers.”

Further hearing of the case has been adjourned till October 17 to enable the Railways to inform the court about the date of commencement of night train service to Karwar, and bifurcation of the existing train at Mangalore.