The Hindu Business Line : Passenger trains between Mangalore, Bangalore after Sept

The passenger train service between Mangalore and Bangalore was stopped 10 years ago to facilitate the way gauge conversion between Hassan and Mangalore.

Mangalore , May 22

The South Western Railway (SWR) zone is likely to operate passenger trains between Mangalore and Bangalore, via Hassan, after September.

The SWR is waiting for track stabilisation before operating any passenger train on the route, as landslides between Subrahmanya and Sakleshpur stretch affected the track-laying work during last monsoon.

There is a 56-km stretch of track from Sakleshpur to Subrahmanya, which, Railway officials say is very difficult.

The stretch with a gradient of one in 15 has large tunnels and bridges.

The General Manager, SWR, Mr T.N. Perti, told Business Line that the movement of goods trains would continue on the route.

Stressing the need for track stabilisation before operating passenger trains on the route, he said the line might not be operational for passenger traffic before October.

The Commissioner of Railway Safety has to conduct inspection of the tracks on the stretch. "We have submitted papers to the commissioner for statutory inspection," Mr Perti said.

Stating that goods movement has started on the route, he said, "We want to improve on the movement that has started."

The Hassan-Mangalore stretch of railway line was commissioned for freight traffic on May 5. Mr Perti said that SWR is constructing two additional stations, which did not exist when the line was metre gauge.

The stations — Kadagaravalli and Arebetta — will be ready by October-November.

These stations have been made for passenger traffic, he said.

NEW TRAINS

The Railways will run three new trains on the line after its commissioning for passenger traffic. There will be two daily trains to Yeshwanthpur in Bangalore from Mangalore.

While one train will run via Arsikere in Hassan, the other will reach Yeshwanthpur via Mysore. Apart from this, the Railways has planned a passenger train to Shravanabelagola from Mangalore.

It may be mentioned here that passenger train service between Mangalore and Bangalore was stopped 10 years ago to facilitate the way gauge conversion between Hassan and Mangalore.